The Cheerleader and the Punk: What if?

by BuyTheTicketTakeTheRide

A 'The Cheerleader and the Punk' what if story. Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Bonnie and Kai hadn't fallen out that fateful summer before eighth grade? Well, here's the story. Two parter. Bonkai.

1. Chapter 1

A/N I'm still retired. I just wanted to see something. So yeah, this is pretty much what the summary says, a TCATP what if story. So obviously this isn't going to be the same vibe as the former bc they're not dead set on revenge and whatnot(so if that angsty enemies to lovers trope is what you crave, this isn't the one for you)but I do hope you like it nonetheless ;Dﾠ

Also you do not need to have read TCATP to enjoy this story, so please don't ask me to reupload it. But yeah, this is just my version of how Bonnie would have turned out if she hadn't been corrupted by the insufferables.

Also I might come back and tidy things up a bit, this is unbeta'd.

The Cheerleader and the Punk: What if..?

"He's staring at you again" the lifeless voice says beside her as she puts in her locker combination.

"Who?" is uttered out, though she doesn't care who. Not really. Because the person she wishes would stare at her, she almost certainly knew wasn't. Because the again that had been said in that droning way her goth pal almost always uses meant there had been staring done on prior occasions. And her best friend, the one who made her heart go pitter patter whenever he smiled at her, had never ever in their history of knowing each other looked at her in that way. The way boys were starting to look at Bonnie.

She finally gets her answer when her friend responds, revulsion barely held from her tone, "Salvatore"

Bonnie turns her head to see for herself. And yep, Nora's right. Damon Salvatore, the captain of the football team, past bully of her bestie and overall shitty human being was staring. And hard. He isn't even embarrassed enough to turn away now that he's been caught ogling her. But that's the way it's been lately. Him leering at her every chance he gets, she being mildly nauseated by it. No scratch that. She could seriously hurl right here on Nora's shiny new Doc Martens, that's how repulsed she was..

"He's looking at you like he wants to know what you taste like." her friend tells her and Bonnie can't help but scrunch her nose up in disgust. "Ew, gross"

"I know. It sucks to be you right now" comes the deadpan response.

Bonnie sighs then turns away from jackass' pervy eyes, antsy to get rid of some of the books she was carrying, wrestling with her locker until the door finally swings open. "But seriously, since when does Damon Salvatore stare at you like you're the last ribeye at a buffet?"

Since my breast seemed to grow two cups sizes overnight, she wants to say but doesn't. She's pretty sure majority of the cause for a lot of his skeevy looks has to do with the fact that she entered the doors of Mystic Falls High the first day of senior year looking like an actual girl.

She traded in her cargos for skirts. Ditch the perpetual ponytail for a silk press. And upgraded to contact lenses instead of the thick frame glasses she normally wore.

The thing is, Damon isn't the only guy who's been ogling her like he wants to know what she tastes like. Boys she's known her whole life, who've never given her a second glance before, are now treating her like they do the Elena's and Caroline's of the school. They dote on her, wait on her after class, offer to carry her books. And all it took was a little mascara and lip gloss to get their heads turning. Not that she wants them to turn. Well, maybe one. And that has yet to happen. She thought altering her entire appearance would at least inspire a comment out of him. Nope. Nada. He actually sat down next to her in Homeroom and started prattling off about his siblings and how they made him late that day.

"Chop chop Bennett!" is said in her ear so suddenly that she nearly yelps in response. Not only did that voice startle her–it's intent–but the owner of said voice is the very one she had just been lamenting on. Immediately, she feels her face flush, guilt stream through her veins.

"Wouldn't want to be late.." he adds on, sing-songy, dialing back on the volume. Her eyes immediately find his and she nearly melts at the sight of his pretty orbs. Such an interesting mesh of blue and gray, she has to physically stop herself from sighing. "The horror of you missing a single moment of playing useless sports with the lot of catty teenage girls"

"Since when did you become the stickler for being on time?" pipes Nora, skeptical. And Bonnie doesn't understand why the question was even uttered. He was clearly making fun of the fact that Bonnie detested her next class. If gym could even be considered a class. If it were up to her, it wouldn't even be on the curriculum.

"Are you implying that I'm a less than exemplary student? Because that would be absurd" He's using a tone that's meant to relay he's appalled but Bonnie detects shades of amusement in his irises, turning them a warm shade of blue.

She stamps down another sigh as Nora lets out a snort.

Kai ignores his friend's skeptical response in favor of asking Bonnie, completely turning to face her dead on to inquire, nodding to her locker, expression inquisitive, "Is my English book in there?" She's surprised he hasn't bumped her out of the way to check for himself like he normally does.

"You wouldn't actually have to wonder about that if you kept your books in your own locker. You know the one that's just down the hall?" she gestures with an incline of her head.

"But that would mean I would actually have stored the combination somewhere in my brain and yeah.." he peters off, his mouth twitching at the corners like wants to full on smirk but is stopping himself from doing so.

"Yeah, who cares about remembering locker combinations when Street Fighter combos are much more important?"

He tugs on her sweater sleeve, revealing one of those heart stopping pouts. It isn't real she knows this but it does something to her nonetheless. Things a pout shouldn't inspire, instead of the normal feelings of commiseration and pity–no, all she feels is an overwhelming amount of longing. "Why are you being so mean to me, hm?" his pretty mouth pushes out even further causing the butterflies to take flight even more.

"I'm not." she professes shyly, her eyes breaking away from his piercing ones. She couldn't stare at them for too long, she'd run the risk of falling into their oceanic depths with no hopes of ever emerging.

"You are" he's saying now but she makes sure not to look directly at him, too afraid he'd pick up on her pitiful thoughts. "Don't tell me you made changes to your personality in addition to your physical appearance."

This is the first time he's acknowledged her 'makeover'. It gets her head to jerk up, eyes to narrow. She takes in his expression, cataloging his features, desperate to see the want that she's sure is constantly reflected in her own in his. All she sees is amusement. Her heart collapses. Disappointment flares heavily in her chest.

Used to rejection when it came to him, she rolls her eyes, making the appropriate response to his now clear teasing. He just smirks, satisfied with her response.

Reaching into her locker, she grabs his English book then pushes it into his chest. "Here"

Her tone is far from civil but a smile blooms on his face anyway and there her heart goes petering again, "Why, thank you" he smiles, taking it from her, his dark lashes revealing just how long they truly were as his eyes begin to hood. And yeah, she needed to get him out of her face before she accidentally exposes her feelings, so she says, emotionless as she can muster, "See you at lunch. Now go." she pushes him into the congested hall.

And with a salute, he's off.

"You have a bit of drool on your lip"

And for a minute there she forgot Nora was still hanging around. The vampire wannabe hadn't uttered a peep since the snort she directed at Kai in response to his exemplary student comment.

"Shut up" she snaps at her friend but it's half hearted. Not bothering to shift her focus to the girl as she comments because that would mean taking her eyes off her other friend's tall form as he saunters off and that wasn't an option. His ass looked entirely too good in those jeans but also she can't help but admire how he's grown at least three inches this past Summer, which they spent apart. A first for them. They've never endured an entire Summer away from each other. Sure, he visits his Pa Pa and Mee Maw for a few weeks before school starts back up but that's the longest they've ever gone without seeing each other. But this wasn't a few weeks. And she felt every insufferable minute of it, having dragged by painfully so. While Bonnie was in Virginia bored to tears, counting the days until his return. Kai was employed as a camp counselor at a gaming camp in Cali. They both had applied but only he got offered a position. She tried not to be bitter about it though she suspects her being female didn't help her chances. So yeah, what a shock it was for her after finally seeing him in the flesh for the first time in eight weeks. Not only having hit a growth spurt–he had to be at least six feet now–but to have put on weight as well, pure muscle. And not the bulky kind like the jocks at her school touted around like an accessory but nice, lean muscles. The kind that lets her know he would have no trouble picking her up. That, combined with the ink that scaled his arms, he was an absolute dream.

"You two are the most clueless individuals I've ever met in my life"

This gets her to finally rip her gaze away from Kai's pinchable ass. She levels it with the petite brunette beside her who's been clearly taking notes of her and Kai's interaction just now, judging them silently.

"What is that supposed to mean?" She makes no attempt to sound civil.

Which happened a lot around the other girl. Nora liked to make snippy, sarcastic little comments in regards to well, everything and Bonnie didn't generally appreciate it. So, because of this they were only pseudo friends at the most. However, anyone else's definition would probably classify them as frenemies.

"How two people can be pining after each other and not even recognize there's mutual pining going on is beyond me"

"He doesn't like me" Bonnie assures, even though the words tasted like saw dust on her tongue, taking off down the hall. Because despite how tantalizing this conversation was, If she didn't get moving and really moving, she was going to be late. And Bonnie Bennett didn't do late.

She hears Nora snort from behind her, which was a feat considering the halls were filled with rambunctious chatter from her fellow classmates.

And then the words Nora had spoken truly registers. Abruptly she stops, whipping around, nearly causing the other girl to crash into her. There's a pile up behind them. She expects startled eyes to peer back at her at the near collision but Nora's expression is just as empty as ever.

She suddenly wonders how Nora would react in a haunted house situation. Would she scream when the ghouls and goblins came out or would she deadpan them until they reluctantly slunk away to frighten someone else?

"Wait, did he say something to you?" erupts from her mouth with eager curiosity, her anxious eyes zeroing in on Nora's hazel ones, unlifting.

To Nora's credit, her face doesn't reveal how pathetic she must think Bonnie is. In an affectless voice, she says, passing up Bonnie in the hallway, not bothering to glance back at her as the words flow out, emotionless as ever, "Did Kai Parker, keeper of secrets, tell me that he's in love with you? Of course not"

---

"Stop it. You're being a creep" Kai accuses, jamming his elbow into his friend's side.

He and Jeremy sat outside at their normal lunch table waiting for Nora and Bonnie to join them. The former, he had no clue of her whereabouts. The latter, chatting up a gaggle of guys as they flirted relentlessly with her.

Jeremy, already knowing what he's being assaulted about, says, wincing, rubbing at his side, "What? Just enjoying the view." he smirks, eyeing Bonnie lasciviously, just as lustfully as the guys who were surrounding her were doing as she balanced a tray on one hand while she used the other to tuck an errant lock of hair behind her ear.

Wait, he knew that move. He'd seen many of girls do the same thing as he chatted them up.

Was Bonnie flirting?

"Don't tell me only you get to ogle her.." The words were said with a slight bitterness to them that gave Kai the impression there were other things that were left unsaid but Kai couldn't give a less fuck if Jeremy was offended, he looked like a creepy stalker eyeing Bonnie the way he was.

"I don't ogle anyone" He bites out, arctically. Did he let his gaze drift to his best friend every once and again? Allow it to linger for just a tad before he begrudgingly ripped it away? Yes. Because what guy wouldn't admire Bonnie's bronze skin, and gold flecked eyes and pouty mouth and luscious curves?

But the mere seconds he did allow himself to appreciate the perfection that was Bonnie Bennett was just that, seconds. He didn't gape and ogle and fondle her with his eyes for long stretches of time like the douche sitting beside him or the skeevy jocks chatting her up right now.

Unconvinced, Jerermy remarks sarcastically, "Sure, you don't"

To this, Kai says nothing. Not that he doesn't have a comeback for the dig but because he really doesn't need to get into this with Jeremy with Bonnie just ten feet away.

"It's okay to be into your best friend." Jeremy is saying. And Kai has the extreme urge to assault his friend again. "Especially when she looks like that." he continues, lust coating his words, his creepy eyes doing a thorough exploration of Bonnie's curves. "Seriously, no one would blame you dude."

"I'm not into Bonnie, now drop it"

But of course his friend doesn't believe him. "Touchy" his mouth quirks into a crooked grin, brown eyes dancing with amusement, his mood a lot lighter now that the roles had gotten suspiciously turned, "Now this shitty attitude of yours wouldn't have anything to do with a certain group of athletes chatting up Bonnie right now, would it?"

And by a certain group he meant the more unsavory members of the schools varsity football team. The most popular guys in school. And sleaziest.

Kai doesn't allow his eyes to betray him by glancing up to where Bonnie was being bombarded with wanton stares. "I don't care if guys talk to Bonnie"

"Oh, really?" Jeremy looks beyond amused, like he's getting immense pleasure out of the whole discussion. "So it doesn't matter at all to you that your mortal nemesis is putting the mack down on the girl you've been in love with since elementary school?"

At this, Kai's head whips up, suddenly very alert.

Kai only had one nemesis.

Damon Salvatore.

And yep. Just as the brunet had said, Damon Salvatore, Mystic Falls High star quarterback, the town's golden boy and the bane of Kai's existence is all in Bonnie's space with that insufferable smirk of his, like he just knows he has Bonnie hooked.

Acid corrodes his stomach as he flicks his eyes away from the two, thankful when his voice doesn't betray just how annoyed he is. But annoyed was an inadequate descriptor, his feelings were more on the verge of impotent rage. "No, it doesn't"

Jeremy pulls a face, believing the bullshit he just trotted out. "Dude, even if you weren't in love with her, you should care."

Jeremy's right. Bonnie letting Damon successfully woo her would be the ultimate betrayal. Good thing for him, Bonnie's loyal. She would never fall for that douche. She hated Damon as much as he did.

And he says just this. "Bonnie would never go for him."

"For your sake I hope that's true"

And that's all they speak of the subject, at least until Bonnie finally joins them at their table, taking a seat directly across from him.

Making sure there's not a hint of jealousy in his tone whatsoever, he speaks, locking impassive eyes on her. "So nice of you to break away from your fan club to join us" He forces both of his lips to tip up at the corners into a teasing smirk.

He watches as a hint of color touches her cheeks, like she's embarrassed. He shouldn't be surprised. This was Bonnie, modest through and through. Because even in her tomboy attire she'd gotten compliments. Because no matter how much her baggy clothes covered up her lovely body, Bonnie Bennett was gorgeous. There was no disputing that. But for some reason she hated attention brought to the fact. Which was so unlike his peers, the superficial wannabe barbies that walked Mystic Falls High halls all snooty and nose upturned like they were God's gift to the male population. Caroline Forbes would have taken the comment for what it was, a dig. She, with her always overly glossed lips would snarl up and spit back at him about how he was just jealous that he would never have a fan club of his own, because he was a loser of course and no one liked losers. Bonnie's response was to get all bashful and flustered. Polar opposites. Why he loved her. Would always love her. She had no ego, no conceited bone in her body even though she had every right to. Other girls paled in comparison and yet she pretended not to notice. God, for his sake, he hoped it remained that way.

He watches her, his eyes flickering over her pretty face, waiting for her response. And she must get over whatever mortification he may have briefly afflicted on her because her expression clears, her tone smart when she speaks, "Very funny" she snips, reaching for the yogurt parfait on her tray.

"So…:" he begins, drawing the word out and then realizing how unsure he sounded, he tries again in the most nonchalant voice he could muster, watching her as she peels back the lid, "What did Damon want?" He notices how she was paying way too much attention on removing it. She was avoiding his gaze.

"What do you think he wants?" It's Jeremy who answers, a goofy grin in place. "To get in her pants"

When he crams his elbow in Jeremy's side this time he doesn't hold back, aiming for bone. Jeremy nearly doubles over but Kai ignores his friend's obvious pain, focusing all his attention on the heart shaped face girl in front of him.

"He and Tyler," she begins, however her orbs are still aimed on her treat, effectively dodging his stare. "They want me to come to some party on Friday. Some rager Tyler's throwing in the woods"

It figures. He knew this would happen. That the athletes would soon set their sights on Bonnie. Bonnie has always been beautiful to him, even bare faced in her tomboy digs and scraped back ponytail. Actually, he preferred her in her natural state because she did what most girls couldn't quite pull off, be effortlessly beautiful without all that external crap. But he'd known once she started to show just exactly what was under those hoodies and cargo pants, the hounds would come sniffing. And they didn't disappoint.

"Oh wow, so you're officially being recruited by the popular crowd. How does it feel?"

He's being an ass but she doesn't react to the sarcasm, just shakes her head, still doing her best not to catch his eyes. "It's just a party" comes the impassive shrug.

He feels the beginnings of a frown warping his mouth, the hardening of his jaw. He was starting to let his true feelings leak through, which he knew better. Bonnie couldn't know how much he cared about this. She would look at him funny. But he can't help himself, so he comments anyway despite his brain telling him to zip it. "Except, they never invited you to one before.."

Another casual lift of her shoulders as she picks at her dessert, pushing blueberries around the plastic cup. "It doesn't matter. I'm not going"

He's relieved. What he thought was her flirting back there was most likely Bonnie being her typical polite self, too well-bred to tell them to respectfully fuck off. Though, he wished that gracious aura she wore like a second skin would shed just once.

"Good" he says in response and he wonders if she can hear how not unconcerned he is. Everyone always tells him how hard he is to read. But did that extend to Bonnie as well? Or could she see through the mask? He shakes his head. Stop overthinking shit. She doesn't know you're in love with her.

He has to tell himself this otherwise the blow of her knowing how he felt but preferred to be friends anyway would be too crushing to deal with. Eager to get away from those thoughts, he glances down at the mystery meat the school cafeteria passes off as food, thinking he should probably use his lunch period to actually consume some calories. But he doesn't, instead he asks, glancing back up at Bonnie who's started digging for strawberries out of her parfait. "So, what are we doing instead?" he probes, feeling Jeremy mocking eyes on him. He already knows what the other boy is thinking, how utterly pathetic he is. Wanting, needing, craving her company even if it will always only be platonic. Fortunately for him, he doesn't care what Jeremy thinks.

Bonnie, however…

Her head tips up. His words, finally getting her to look up at him. Done picking at her parfait, she inquires, "Is this your way of making sure you're still invited to my house this Friday?" she allows a teasing smirk to cover her lips.

And God did that smile do him in. It wasn't even in full bloom but he felt a way still. So much so, he wanted to get up, walk over to her side of the table, take a seat beside her, rid her of that pathetic parfait she's playing with, bring his hand up to her face, cradle it just so before leaning in and bringing their lips together.

It's torture the way he thinks sometimes, as if his shitty luck would ever allow something amazing as finally being able to kiss the girl of his dreams.

Kai holds his hands up in defense, "Hey, I gotta make sure with your rising popularity and all that you haven't decided to ditch us for a more acceptable crowd."

She levels him with a look. "You're really going to be annoying about this, aren't you?"

"Don't mind him. He's just jealous."

Kai's back goes ramrod straight(he's forgotten the brunet boy was even sitting beside him, silently judging him)he can feel the stricken look on his features starting to take root...until Jeremy's next words flow out.. "He wishes he could hang out with a more acceptable crowd."

His heart restarts. Feels his body relax again, expression iron out. He gets out with an efficient amount of sarcasm. "You're right, it's been a lifelong dream of mine to finally be recruited into the insufferables"

Except, the kick that comes from under the table is not from the older boy.

His eyes fly to Bonnie, feeling unfairly persecuted but she just frowns at him, her tone reprimanding, "Don't call them that. It's really mean, Kai"

See, this was why he loved her. She cared how others were treated. However, in this case though, she could save it. These weren't angels she was defending, the very opposite. These were devils from the pits of hell. The fact that all he did was call them insufferable–because there were so many other adjectives he could use instead to describe them–she should be proud. But she isn't. She's glaring at him like he's said something so egregious, something that deserves actual reprimanding.

And it baffles him. Was she not there when Damon and those boot licking followers of his made it their mission to make Kai's life a living hell? Hardly even five years ago were they spewing words like trailer trash, freak, faggot at him.

"You don't think they call us worse?" he whips back, giving a slow blink, his voice taking on a slight edge. "You know they're exactly that. You just feel a way about me including your best friend in the mix." Because that has to be it, why she's so dead set on defending them. The girl she's known since pre-school was insufferable number four, or simply just four to Kai.

Bonnie opens her mouth clearly getting ready to defend the other girl but Kai gets there first. "Except, she isn't your best friend anymore because she ditched you in middle school for those jerks."

He knew it was low bringing it up, how Elena had said adios losers to them to hang with the popular crowd. Thirteen year old Bonnie took it hard. Kai remembers having to console his distraught friend for months after the whole ordeal. Honestly, she's never gotten over it to this day. So he knows the effect his words must have on her, he sees it in her body language. How her whole demeanor had changed. Her shoulders now slumped, how there's a downturn to her lips that wasn't there before, the overall melancholiness clouding her eyes. He'd made her sad. Now he feels like the jerk he accuses them of being.

"I'm sorry, okay?" his eyes soften, wanting nothing more than to reach out for her hand, caress it but ultimately deciding against it. Even though it wasn't uncommon for him to be affectionate, but the older they got the more the gestures meant. "I shouldn't have said that"

She tries to get a wrangle on her emotions, straightening out her posture and doing her best to clear out her expression but the melancholy still manages to peek through. He wants to kick himself in the ass for upsetting her, because seeing her sad was like watching someone kick a puppy, "No, you're right. She ditched us just like you said. I need to stop hoping we'll ever be friends again. It's pathetic"

God, he could kill Elena Gilbert. What a stupid fucking cunt. How someone could be friends with someone as awesome as Bonnie and then decides to just dump her like trash for actual trash was beyond mind boggling. Trading in Bonnie for Caroline 'psychotic' Forbes. An actual choice.

And then he actually does it this time because fuck it, he could comfort his friend if he wanted, fuck what anyone thought. Reaching across the table, he takes hold of her hand, "No, it's not. You can't help you're a good person and want to only see the good in people." he praises, his voice gentle, understanding. She was part of a select few who he used this tone on. She and his little brother and sister, everyone else either got monotone or acidic, there was none in between.

She gives him a sad but grateful smile which means his words made her feel at least marginally better. In return, he allows one side of his mouth to kick upwards. Taking it a bit further, he uses his thumb to caress the soft skin of the back of her hand, allowing his grin to spread. This was something lovers did but he can't help wanting to touch her. He would always want that. But just because you wanted so badly to do something doesn't mean you should act on it. Because the fact remained, Bonnie saw him as her friend. Her best friend. He knew this, known this for ten years. And yet, he still hoped she'd see him as more. Of course, he wasn't good enough for her but no one was. But wouldn't it be better for her to end up with him rather than a Damon or a Ben of the world? He certainly thinks so. If only…

A hand squeeze, it's slight, nearly imperceptible but he feels it. And it gives him hope, until her next words flow out, "Anyway," she chirps, adding pep to her tone, flashing the smallest of grins but the curling of her lips he knows is forced. This was an attempt at shaking the moroseness away he determines, pretend everything was fine. Didn't she know by now he could read her like a book? "Where's Nora?" She makes a gesture of looking around the vicinity.

And that's his cue, he releases her hand, sliding the appendage back to his side of the table. There were two ways he could take her topic change. A., She felt so uncomfortable by his hand holding and as a way to get his digits off her she changed the subject. B., Her brain registered the gesture as so insignificant that the only natural course of action was to move on to the next topic.

Either option wasn't particularly good if you asked him.

After not finding Nora in the crowd, Bonnie looks to Kai as if he was the goth girl's keeper. Which, he doesn't even know why she's asking about the other girl. Nora hardly ever showed her face at lunch time. It was actually more common to see her outside of school than there. But this just confirms what he thought, this had been a purposeful topic change.

He tries not to sulk.

He lets Jeremy answer, "Probably in the backseat of her car "studying" with her new 'friend"' he says with air quotes.

Bonnie laughs and that sound is all that is needed to get him out of his funk, because to be real, he could listen to that soft tinkle all day everyday and never grow tired of it.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," he adds, unfurling a grin, watching her face grow even more amused.

---

Bonnie can't remember the last time Caroline Forbes actually spoke to her. Not acknowledged her existence in the school's hallway with a wave or a slight head nod. Like actually spoke to her. Middle school, maybe? That sounded right. She recalls the Summer before eighth grade, telling Caroline she would rather die than spend an entire summer in Damon's presence, when the offer was extended to her of all the girls in their grade to join them–the popular kids–at Whispering Pines, a sleepaway camp in Norfolk for the Summer. The other girl had kept her distance after that. She wasn't nasty or rude. She just stopped speaking to her, which Bonnie wasn't complaining about. It was actually the preferred option, especially since she had seen other girls get treated far worse for lesser offenses than turning The Caroline Forbes down on anything. She knew the other girl took Bonnie refusing her invite as rejecting the other girl's proffered friendship. So when the comment comes in the East wing, second floor girls restroom, it shocks her.

"I like that shade" the blonde compliments as Bonnie washes her hands. It was just the two of them in the restroom for now. It's probably why Caroline felt so comfortable saying this, she could deny it if word got around she was handing out compliments. She had an Ice Queen image to uphold.

"Huh?" Bonnie pipes dumbly. She was well aware she was being complimented; she just didn't know on what. She knew it had to be either her hair, which is dyed a fresh chestnut shade. Or the blonde could be referring to her eyeshadow. She picked up this really cool Pat Mcgrath palette at Sephora, her favorite shade of the bunch, a shimmering chartreuse color that she wore nearly everyday this week because it made her green eyes pop even more. Or she could be referring to her lip color staining her lips. It was a deep burgundy color. Bold for her age group, where her peers wore either nudes shades or clear gloss, those were the only options apparently.

"Your lipstick. I like it. What shade is that?" Bonnie was not expecting this answer. Caroline Forbes was the definition of cookie cutter as far as appearances went. For makeup, she stuck to safe shades. Never experimented with dying her hair because who would dare dye natural blonde hair? People spent thousands of dollars a year to get their hair her shade she once heard the blonde say when one of her friends suggested she get low lights. She was appalled, even accusing the girl of being jealous.

"Um..I don't know..?" Bonnie frowns up, trying to recall. She wasn't used to the whole makeup thing. Buying it or applying it for the matter. She had to actually drag her mom with her to Sephora for help. Though Abby wouldn't actually consider any strong-arming having been done. She was actually quite pleased Bonnie needed her help, it made her feel useful the teen could tell. But also like they were bonding. Not that they hadn't before. Bonnie considers herself lucky. She actually got along with her parents where most of her friends resented theirs. But just because they got along didn't mean they had anything in common. Until now it seems, her Mom nearly squealed when she requested her help.

"It should be at the bottom of the tube." The blonde gives her a clue.

"Oh..uh" she rambles, feeling lame, pulling out the sixty dollar tube of lip color out of her handbag–which was also a new development. She resented purses. Everything she needed could be stored in the pockets of her cargos. Except, she no longer wore cargos hence the Kate Spade handbag that hung off her shoulder. Once she's located it, she flipped it over to study the bottom. "Sorry, I'm new to the whole make-up thing" she tells the blonde who's probably wondering if she's an idiot.

"Clearly" the other girl comments but not in a nasty way, the way she's seen her respond to other girls.

"Sin" she discloses, looking up with an emerging smile, locking eyes with the blue eyed blonde.

Caroline doesn't exactly smile back but she isn't frowning either, she just simply leans forward to get a better view as she reapplies her own nude shade. "Thanks, though I'm not sure why I even asked you to begin with, dark shades like that only washes me out"

Bonnie could see that Caroline wasn't exactly tanned like most of their peers seem to be after an eight week Summer vacation. Which makes Bonnie wonder what she'd done for break. Most of the wealthier Mystic Falls residents usually got out of town for Summer vacay, their passports stamped with places like Saint Tropez, the Maldives, Costa Rica. Caroline, however, didn't have that fresh bronzed glow that came from international traveling which makes Bonnie think she stayed here for break. Which the teen couldn't imagine, even as kids Caroline and that whole crew made sure to get out of town for the summer even if it was to Whispering Pines in which they always came back sporting nice tans.

"I'm sure it would look good on you" She comments even though she's not sure she believes it. But it was ingrained in her to be polite. Grams made sure of this.

She nearly sighs thinking about the older woman.

Thankfully, Caroline cuts in before her thoughts could turn depressing. "No, I'd look like a member of the undead but thanks for the compliment."

Bonnie is just about to respond when the bathroom door swing opens, a herd of girls rushing in. All members of the cheerleading squad. All Caroline Forbes besties. Bonnie's eyes fall on one bestie in particular though, the pretty brunette with doe eyes who used to be Bonnie's bestie.

The brunette spots her right away, she doesn't speak though and that should hurt but she convinces herself it's because of all the loud chattering filling the room. Bonnie turns back to face the mirror, deciding to touch up her lips, might as well since she already has the tube pulled out. She tries to tune out the clucking around her which was near impossible. They were always so loud to her. She couldn't understand how anyone could be so peppy all the time. Didn't that get exhausting?

"I made these last period." She hears the blonde saying to her cheermates. "Make sure you hang them up all around campus, we have to find someone to replace Tiki before the next game"

She hears the girl's agreement as she finishes touching up her lips. Realizing she needs to get out of here, she caps the tube and shoves it in her purse, ready to head to class. But a perky voice stops her, "So Bonnie," Caroline probes, her cool eyed stare suddenly super warm and inviting. "What do you think about cheerleading? Ever thought about trying out for the squad?"

Her eyes fly to Elena, praying this isn't some type of cruel joke. Was Caroline Forbes really asking her whether she wanted to try out for cheerleading? The most confident girl in school wanted Bonnie, probably the most timid girl out of all of their classmates to join their squad? A squad that relied heavily on pep, in which Bonnie had none? But the other girl's visage otherwise remained unmoved.

Her eyes flick back to Caroline, "Um..no. Not really"

"Why?" the other girl wants to know, a fair brow quirking up on her pale forehead. "I think you'd be great at it. I remember you being freakishly good at gymnastics" Yeah, a thousand years ago she wanted to say…

And was that a hint of bitterness in her tone?

"You're definitely pretty enough" she adds on, giving Bonnie a slow perusal, as if superficial beauty was a prerequisite for being a cheerleader.

"Uh..thanks.." she replies awkwardly. She's still getting used to that word being thrown around about her. Growing up Elena was always referred to as the pretty one. Bonnie was the smart one or the tomboy or Kai Parker's sidekick. Never was she ever referred to as pretty. She needed to own it though, if she ever wanted Kai to see her as more than a friend she needed to exude confidence. Because if she knew anything about boys is that they loved confident girls. Caroline here was proof of that, she had had like a gazillion boyfriends already.

"So what do you say? Will you try out?" the blonde wants to know, watching her expectantly.

"Uh.." she drawls nervously, wondering if turning Caroline down twice would result in her reputation being trashed..

Caroline continues with trying to reel her in, "Oh come on, pretty girl." she says, touching her arm lightly. "What's the worst that can happen? You don't make the squad..?" Bonnie actually didn't see that as a con but whatever. "Think about it this way, if you're any good, you'll make friends for life" And there was nothing wrong with making more friends. Plus, if she did make the squad– maybe–possibly she could get down to the root of the issue with Elena. Her eyes flick to the other girl, who, she notes, looks interested in hearing the answer as well. She doesn't look upset like she wants Bonnie to say no. It's this that finally convinces her.

"Yeah, sure. When are tryouts?"

---

"COD?" Kai throws out as an activity for them to do. Except they're supposed to be studying. Mainly him, his GPA has dropped quite a bit. It's been gradually declining since last year. She wonders if all the video gaming was a result of this. Yes, she kept track of Kai's GPA. One of them had to since he clearly wasn't going to. So to help him get back on track, she's been trying to tutor him but he's been consistently blowing it off.

"No, I have to study" She informs him, reaching for her book bag on the floor. They were at her house, in her room, door open of course. Since apparently overnight her dad decided he didn't trust them enough to be in enclosed rooms together. "Which you should be doing as well. What did you get on your quiz last week in Government? A seventy six, was it not?"

His expression goes from inquisitive to amused. "Hey, that's a passing grade" he points out, his trademark smirk curling his lips.

She has to force her gaze away from his lips, because boy could that bottom one put her in a trance. She level gazes with his, her tone having hardened, "Kai, you shouldn't be content with making C's"

Kai rips his eyes away from hers, allowing his back to fall onto her mattress, his eyes canvasing the ceiling above him. He doesn't like her nagging him about this. Tough. She cared too much about him to allow him to flunk out of school. Especially when he was so smart. He was just lazy. "Everyone can't be Einstein like you." he tells her, but he doesn't sound sad about it, there's a teasing lilt to his tone. "Some of us have other qualities we excel at" she hears the smile in his voice and scoffs.

"Like what?" She wants to know, her attention sharpening on his face.

"Isn't it obvious?" his eyes find hers, mirth dancing in its blue depths. "My exceptional gaming skills..It's why I have the following I have." He brags but she can tell he's only joking. He knows how much she hates the unhumbled. "The masses clearly agree"

It's true. Kai has a ton of followers on Youtube and Twitch, totaling to almost six million. Apparently there are people out there who actually enjoy watching other people play video games. Who knew? No one at school is aware of how popular he is within the social media scene though. And he likes it that way. Kai, since he's started this video game streaming shit has operated under complete anonymity. He's never shown his face. And whenever it absolutely requires him to be in front of a camera, he wears a mask to hide his identity. Typically, a panda one. She thinks it's ridiculous.

And then he gets serious, his smug smile finally folding. "Besides it's not like I'm going to college anyway"

The words have Bonnie nearly choking on air. When the heck did he decide this? She was involved in all his important decisions. She doesn't like he was making them without her. She whips at him, after finding her words, "Oh yes the fuck you are. You promised me we'd attend NYU together"

A grin pops on his face and she knows it's because of her swearing. He barely gets to hear it leave her lips so when he does it's like a treat for him. "Yeah, when I hadn't realize I could make six figures a year just by playing video games alone"

Wait, he made six figures? Or was this what he could potentially make? She would ask for clarification but inquiring on someone else's finances always struck her as tactless.

"You can't put all your eggs in one basket, Kai." Because even if he was making six figures, how long was that bound to last? "What if you lose all your followers and sponsors? Then what?" she questions, sounding like a parent. She doesn't care though. He needed to be freaking real. "You need a degree to fall back on"

Kai rolls his eyes. "I'm not going to lose all of my followers. If anything, I'll gain more."

"You don't know that.." she stresses, her eyes narrowing on him. "Content creation is super unreliable. One minute you're on top, the next.."

"Oh, please." he interjects, giving her a sidelong look. "No one is topping my scores."

"That's not what I meant.."

A sigh gust out of him. "What are you trying to say, Bennett?" And now he's starting to sound irritated. He raises his upper body by drawing up his elbows, leaning back onto them, he gives her a dry look.

"What I'm trying to say is-" she begins carefully, gentling her voice, not wanting to court his ire because apparently this is a fragile topic for him, "-people could get bored..move on to the next big thing"

"O ye of little faith" he accuses, not breaking eye contact. He gives a razor thin smile. "I thought friends were supposed to believe in each other. Uplift each other. Whatever happened to that, huh? Last time I checked I supported you and your Ivy League dreams and aspirations of becoming the first female president."

She did tell him that one day when they were discussing their ideal futures, oh how she regretted it now.

"It's not that I don't believe in you-" she begins but he cuts her off, scoffing his disagreement.

"Yeah, you do." His mouth is a hard grim line. "But it's cool. When I become a billionaire, I don't want to hear about how you always knew I'd be great blah blah blah."

And she doesn't think he's joking about becoming a billionaire. He sounds so sure of this. It was almost concerning that he's not thinking more logically about this. Kai, who she'd always thought was a realist, was talking like this online fame of his could never be taken away. This clearly isn't the same boy from two years ago who expected the worst out of every situation, whose middle name should have been pessimistic, who once said if it wasn't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all.

"Wow, I didn't know it was possible for you to get even more arrogant" she teases and he smiles at her prettily. It's really not fair though, he has such a nice smile. If only he'd do it more.

"You love it" His mouth curves into a secretive smile.

And the way he says it, all low and silkily like he was flirting with her.. But that couldn't be right.. Right? Friends didn't flirt with each other, did they?

"Why are you blushing?" he gets out with appraising eyes, his grin growing wider, causing his dimples to wink at her. And she's absolutely mortified, clearly her lust was reflected all over her face. She tries to pass it off as a heat flash.

"I'm not..It's a little hot in here is all. You're not hot? I should go turn on the air" her cheeks pinked.

She gets to moving, beyond flustered, needing to get away before she embarrasses herself even more. When she gets back, he's sitting up straight as a board, his eyes are zeroed in on hers. What gives her pause is there's no longer amusement shadowing its dark depths. He looks strangely serious. It gets her eyes to narrow, her footsteps to slow.

"What?" she drags out, "Why are you looking at me like that?" She wonders if he's got her figured out. Does he know that she was lying about the blushing thing? Connected the dots that she's actually in love with him and not having an actual heat flash? It wouldn't be hard to figure out, she can't seem to hide her feelings no matter how hard she tries.

"Bonnie, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." he pauses, suddenly looking unsure but he pushes on like this was something he needed to do. "I've been meaning to talk to you about it for a while now"

Oh God. Was he going to tell her he's noticed all the lingering stares she's aimed his way lately? Was this him getting ready to turn her down? Tell her they were best off as friends? Jesus she doesn't think she could handle his rejection..

"Yeah?" She pushes out airily, though she doesn't know how she manages the act. She just knows by the end of this discussion she was going to be crushed.

And right when his mouth opens to speak..

"Baby girl?" her mom yells from downstairs.

She doesn't think she's ever been so happy for an interruption in her life.

"Yes, mom?" she shouts back, breaking her eyes from his and swinging them towards the door as if her mom will magically appear there. In all honesty though, she did it because his stare was starting to make her nervous, she needed to cut the connection.

"There's someone at the door for you. A classmate of yours"

A classmate? The only people who dropped by here for her were Kai, Nora and Jeremy..And since the former was here already, it only left Nora and Jeremy. But wouldn't her mom have said it if it were them? No, this had to be someone else..

"Are you expecting company?" she hears Kai ask, he almost looks offended like he couldn't believe she would invite someone else over to intrude in on their time. Kai has always been jealous like that when it came to sharing her with other people. It was like he wanted her all to himself.

"No" she shakes her head, "Give me a sec, okay? I'll be right back."

---

Bonnie is beyond shocked to see who's waiting in the foyer for her when she clears the stairs.

Mr. Mystic Falls High himself, Homecoming King, star quarterback, future NFL hall of famer not to mention king of assholes Damon Salvatore is standing confidently by the door like he's meant to be there, like he was invited over. It pisses her off.

"What are you doing here?" she whips at him bruskly the moment she's in his face. Folding her arms over her chest, she waits for his explanation as to why he thought it was okay for him to be here. Interacting with him at school was one thing but him showing up at her home, her sacred place..Yeah, he was out of line.

She watches as one corner of his mouth leans up in one of his trademark half smirks. Any girl at her school would feel lucky to have that smirk aimed at her, Bonnie just feels revulsion. Not that it wasn't a nice smirk, it was. Because let's be real, he was one of the hottest guys in their school, top five percent for sure with his jewel eyes and raven hair–it was the person behind the smirk that made her skin crawl. "I was hoping we could hang"

Wow. Damon never struck her as the stereotypical dumb jock before but now she's not so sure. He doesn't even seem vaguely aware of her less than chilly reception towards him. That what that was earlier at school, when he and his boys were all in her grill, teasing and flirting was her tolerating him.

She nods once. The action is tolerant. "So instead of just texting me this you just drop by my house unannounced?" a sharp eyebrow whips up, questioning.

Only then does his smirk falter. Ah. So he's not so dim..

But she doesn't care how she must be coming off right now. Like a grade A bitch. He deserves every mean look, condescending remark she gave him.

"I don't have your number" he answers and he looks hella uncomfortable. Like it just now hit him that maybe he shouldn't have come here. This must be so foreign to him, a girl treating him like he was a pest instead of the usually flirty banter he probably normally receives. Good. Now he knows what all the other boys in the world experience from time to time; rejection.

"For good reason" she spits to drill it in. How she was good on never seeing his face outside of school ever.

"Look," he sighs. She can hear the frustration behind the act. "I know we haven't gotten along well in the past-"

"Try at all" she interrupts him to say. And his face falls even more. But he doesn't continue on, just blinks slowly at her.

Now she's the one sighing. He's not making this very enjoyable for her. How could you properly dismantle someone's confidence if there was minimal interaction from them? "Do you know why that is..?"

"I'm assuming you're going to tell me" is his bleak response.

She cocks her head slightly, disappointment flaring in her chest. How could he not know the answer to this? It was obvious. She makes sure she grits out every single syllable of her answer, "Because of the way you treat my best friend"

"Parker.." he deduces with a slight scowl. Duh, Parker.. What else best friend did she have now that they've taken Elena from her?

"Yes, Kai." she spits, registers the hardening of her features as the words flow out. "You bullied him. You treated him like shit for years. And you never apologized for any of it"

"Yeah, about that.." he starts but something catches his attention behind her.

She hears, "Salvatore" spit out with enough frost to chill the room.

She whips around, watches Kai as he descends the stairs. He looks bored more than anything but she knows better, his tone had said it all. He's pissed that Damon's here. He's probably wondering why she hasn't kicked him out yet. Why hasn't she?

"Parker" Damon intones darkly, his expression morphing into a look of distaste. "I thought I saw your car outside" his voice is acid.

There was absolutely no love lost between the two, Kai's dislike for the other boy she could understand. But why Damon hated Kai had always been a mystery to her. She couldn't imagine just picking out a random person and deciding not to like them. Seemed exhausting.

Kai ignores the comment. Instead, throws out at the blue-eyed footballer, his tone slightly aggy, which was something being Kai rarely allowed Damon to see him aggravated, "What are you doing here?" he glowers at the interloper.

He's cleared the steps and has made his way beside Bonnie. He's standing awfully close. Almost like a protective boyfriend would. Of course she notices this. All that's left for him to do is wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her close. She secretly wishes he would. As far as she was concerned she was his.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to see Bonnie." the words are clipped out like he's talking to an idiot. Grand, considering he was slow with the uptake on picking up on her clear revulsion for him just moment ago. "Not that it's any of your business" he continues on smartly, eyes turning black.

Only Damon Salvatore could come into someone's home uninvited, be condescending as shit to said person's best friend right in front of them when he should really be on his best behavior considering all the shitty things he's done in the past. But of course not. He has to be an asshole.

Kai's expression turns flat. "Well, when the douchiest guy in school shows up to no doubt terrorize my best friend at her place of residence, as if terrorizing her at school isn't enough, It sort of becomes my business."

"Here we go.." Damon laments, rolling his pale blue eyes. "No guy can ever talk to Bonnie but you. Do you see how controlling your friend is?" He's looking at Bonnie now, like he expects her to comment or agree. She does neither.

Kai laughs, but its hollow, his eyes delivering heaps of spite. "Controlling? Because I'm looking out for her? Because I want to protect her from d-bags like you?"

Damon's the one laughing now. But unlike Kai, his is rooted in true amusement. "Dude, you're not even subtle about it." he accuses, then his pearlescent eyes are on Bonnie again. "Do you see what he's doing? He wants to scare every guy away from you all because he wants you for himself"

As much as Bonnie wishes this was true, she knew that it wasn't. Kai never had a reaction to any guy hitting on her. Damon was the only exception. And that was only because of the visceral hate he shared for the other boy.

"That's enough. Damon, leave" she commands. She's entertained him enough today. All he was going to do is make Kai even madder. And who would have to deal with his shitty mood afterwards? Her.

Damon's eyes bulge almost cartoonishly at her. "Seriously, you're kicking me out?"

With a flat look she relays, not even pretending to feel remorseful, "We're not going to do this alpha male crap with my mom in the house."

He looks at her for a long while then finally speaking, he sighs out, "Fine. Will I see you at the party on Friday?"

"I don't know" is her brisk response.

Annoyance flashes across his brow so quickly she nearly misses it. He's probably never worked this hard in his life for a girl's attention. Which makes her hate him even more. It's seconds before he speaks again. "Think about it, okay?" He requests and this bastard has the nerve to touch her, albeit on the arm but still yuck. Before she could throw up, he's gone.

"You don't know?" Kai drawls out the words slowly beside her. He sounds mad. And when she looks over at him. Yep, the emotion covers every inch of his face. And she couldn't understand it. What is he even going on about? And then he clarifies with his next words. "You're not actually thinking about going to that shit party, are you?"

Irritation flares through her because she hated when he got like this. "And what if I was, Kai? Would it be a crime if I went to one party my whole high school career?" Not that she was really considering going but she'd like to feel like she could if she wanted to without being made to feel like an asshole because of it.

"No, of course not. It's just.. it's his party.." he stresses, eyes flaring with hate.

Her mouth twists in irritation. "It isn't. It's Tyler"

"Semantics" he argues and she sighs. Kai did this all the time, grouping them all together as one. As if they didn't have their own identities, own personalities. They didn't even get names with him, he referred to them as numbers.

He saw Elena as a number even though the three grew up together. Played at recess together everyday. Spent the night at each other's houses, eating smores and watching horror flicks. It was insulting really. Now that she thinks about it, it makes her sort of angry, how flippant he is. Because she did miss the other girl and at tryouts the other day, Elena went out of her way to interact with her. It wasn't exactly like old times but they did share a laugh.

"It won't hurt, one little ol' party, Kai. We may even have fun" She doesn't know why she says it. She doesn't even really want to go but thinking about her ex best friend just now, knowing she'll be there.. Maybe they could finally have a real honest to God talk. She needed to know why the cheerleader stopped being her friend. It couldn't have been because Bonnie wasn't cool enough. She refused to think her ex bestie was that vain.

"So now you're trying to drag me to that shit? I'll pass" he looks revolted at the mere thought of spending even a second of his time amidst such vapid idiots, his words.

"Please." she pouts. Kai had to come. There was no way she was going to a high school party all by herself. She could ask Nora but the other girl seemed to despise that whole crew more than Kai had, which was quite the feat. Jeremy would go but he'd probably ditch her the moment they got there to hang with the burnouts. Because what was a party without drugs? Besides, she doesn't have that relationship with the older boy like she does with Kai. He's her friend of course but only because of who he was related to. If he hadn't been Elena's cousin they probably would have never hung out otherwise. "We'll obviously still have our thing afterwards. And who knows maybe I'll even spend the night at your house this time."

She thinks she sees pink stain his cheeks but he's speaking before she can truly examine it, "I don't remember getting an invitation" he reminds her dryly.

She gives him a look that says cut the bull. "As if invitations and such things have ever stopped you from going where you pleased before.."

"I hate you" he returns with such nonchalance he might as well have said cantaloupe, or fried chicken. There was no emotion behind the declaration whatsoever. Which inspires her next words, "No, you love me" she explains to him, fighting a grin.

He doesn't return the gesture, just shakes his head, tone emotionless as his expression, "No, Bonnie. I really do hate you"

She sidles up closer to him, leaning her head sideways until it rested on his shoulder. "Liar"

---

So the thing about liking your friend is, no–falling in love with your friend–is you would do absolutely anything they asked. For example, attend a party with the people who bullied you for most of your life. Kai's made some questionable decisions in the past but he really thinks this one takes the cake. If he'd had any sense he'd drive off right now, but instead he waits for the girl of his dreams to emerge from her house so that he could drive them to this hell he's sure awaiting him in the woods.

His eyes flick to the time on the dashboard. 8:34 pm. He's officially been out here for twelve minutes. He's about to pick up his phone to text her to hurry up–because the sooner they get this over with the better–when she finally finally emerges from the house.

He can't even bask in true relief because another emotion takes over completely. Unadulterated lust. His eyes are stuck on her curvy form as he takes in the sight before him. Bonnie Bennett exiting her house, hair pulled high in a bun showing off her slender neck, bronze shoulders that were bare due to the denim button down tube dress she was wearing. And boy was she wearing it. He doesn't think anyone's ever looked so good in clothing before. It was like the fabric was tailored for her body, hugging the swell of her breast then dipping in to mold against her tiny waist before flaring out again over her provocative hips. And then there was nothing but legs beyond that. Bronze legs that even though she was only 5'2 seem to go on for days.

"Jesus Christ"

"I heard that" a voice pipes from behind him. And shit, he totally forgot Jeremy was in the back seat.

"Why are you here again?" he asks, irritated, not wanting to deal with Jeremy's commentary tonight. And he could tell there would be alot of it.

"I'm here to have your back when Salvatore and co for sure jumps your ass for showing up to their party uninvited. I'll take my thank you in the form of Venmo thank you very much"

"Aw, how sweet. You really do care" he croons, eyes still glued on Bonnie who's now locking up. Her parents arent home, probably off at some charity function. Lord knows they wouldn't have let her leave the house looking like this. Not that her attire was trashy or anything, it's just Jesus she looked good. How did her dad deal? You couldn't tell him he wasn't beating off guys left and right with a stick now that Bonnie's decided to show off her assets.

"Of course I care. If only Bonnie wasn't in my way" the brunet sighs dreamily from the backseat.

This was a goad. Kai knows one when he hears it considering he throws them out all the time.

"You should tell her tonight by the way." he hears the brunet say. Jeremy had gotten out of the front seat and moved to the back the moment they got here. He's been doing that alot lately, allowing Bonnie to sit up in the front next to him. It irritates him because it's Jeremy's way of saying I know you'd rather sit next to your boo. The other boy was right, he would rather sit next to her but he hated how smug the dick was about it, practically throwing it in Kai's face about how much he's in love with Bonnie.

"I don't know what you're talking about" he tries for innocence.

The scoff is unmistakable. "Seriously, dude. She's not going to stay single for long. Not with these new developments that's come into play-" New developments as in Bonnie's hot as sin body.

He doesn't feed the monster though. "Again, I don't know what you're talking about"

Another scoff and then in an incredibly patronizing tone, "Right, you decided to attend a party thrown by people you absolutely detest just for the hell of it"

"No," Kai grinds out, noting how Bonnie has almost made her way to the car, so he rushes his words out, not holding back on the frost, "I decided to attend a party thrown by people I absolutely detest because my very pretty, very single friend is too naive to realize these douches may actually try to roofie her."

"So this is all about protecting Bonnie, right.." That condescending tone again.

Kai grits his teeth, not responding. Not because he didn't have a response, there was a lot of shit he wanted to say but because Bonnie was right outside the car, not even two feet away, he couldn't chance her hearing them discuss her in that way.

Though, he'd must admit he'd almost told her yesterday afternoon before that douchebag Salvatore showed up. He was actually going to confess everything to her, how he's loved her since he first laid eyes on her in second grade, though he didn't know it at the time, just thought it was extreme fondness because she was the only person who didn't treat him like shit. He didn't figure it out, how he felt, until years later. When he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her, stop his thoughts from centering around her, understand why his tummy felt all funny when she stood too close, how he couldn't seem to not get jealous when other boys paid her attention. And then it hit him one day like an impact from a sumo wrestler. It was at one of their campovers, they were watching scary movies in her treehouse on a portable DVD player. And one particular scene must have scared her so badly that she leaned into him, her body pressing into his scrawny chest as she shielded her eyes from the murder spree on the screen. He couldn't breathe in that moment. And that's when he knew. And it's been torture ever since. Seven years worth of it.

"Bonnie, why don't you look lovely this evening" the sound of Jeremy's voice rips him out of his depressing thoughts.

His eyes immediately flicker over to the passenger side where Bonnie was just sliding into the seat next to him.

He tries not to shut his eyes in bliss at how amazing she smelled. She always smelled nice but lately, he didn't know if it was a new perfume or pheromones or what but whatever the case, he was addicted.

She tosses a look behind her, making eye contact with Jeremy who was grinning goofily in the back seat. Loser. "Thanks Jeremy. You don't look so bad yourself" she appraises, eyes flickering up and down, giving him a look of approval.

"Well, you know, I try" the loser says.

Kai has to hold back an eye roll. Did Jeremy actually think he was impressing her trying to be Rico Suave? He sounded like a tool. But he was right about one thing. She looked beyond amazing. So amazing in fact, he didn't know how he was supposed to get through an evening of guys hounding her all night. He prayed he could make it through the whole ordeal without murdering anyone. And if his good friend back there kept eyeing Bonnie the way he was, he'd be first on the list.

"He's right. You do look really great" His eyes are back on her again, he tries not to allow his gaze to dip below her chin. Though it was hard, he manages.

She looks taken back for a minute, her eyes widening a bit but then she's responding to his compliment in that modest way of hers, no 'Well I try' just a simple, "Thank you"

"What? I don't get a compliment back?" he teases, allowing a smirk to crawl across his face.

Bonnie looks like she's about to say something but her eyes suddenly go large once she notices his new accessory.

"What the fuck did you do to your face?" she looks horrified. Not the reaction he was expecting.

She takes hold of his chin, tilting it at the right angle to get a better look, the tip of her pointer finger edging upwards then gliding over the gleaming metal.

"I wanted to try something different," he says, ruling his body under control at the feel of her hands on him. "It's no biggie" he goes on, his shoulders lifting in a nonchalant shrug.

She glares at him, blinking once, "Trying something different would be getting a new hairstyle." she voices, letting go of her hold on him. His skin screams in protest. "You put a fucking hole in your face"

Aw, his Bonnie is really starting to embrace that word, huh? Two times in one week. He feels special.

"It's just a brow piercing, Bonnie." he sighs, starting up the car, he could tell this would be a long scolding from her and he was not about to sit idly through it. If she was going to yell at him, he preferred it to happen while he was doing something productive.

"For now. And the next thing you know it'll be a bridge piercing and then a lip piercing then you'll be putting holes in your cheeks, and massive gauge thingies in your ears.. And then you'll move on to your genitals and then when will the madness end?"

He shakes his head laughing a little. "Oh my god. You sound ridiculous. Tell her she sounds ridiculous" he requests of Jeremy while glancing into his sideview mirror before pulling off into the street.

"I mean you've pretty much marked up your entire body with ink, I don't see this whole thing stopping with a brow piercing"

Traitor.

"Okay, it's sad that I even have to say this but this here" he waves a hand in the general vicinity of his person. "belongs to me" he lets them know but really if he's honest, every part of him had Bonnie's name stamped all over it but saying that, admitting this, would be outing himself, so he gets on with his point, "Therefore, I do what I please with it" and he punctuates that statement with a polished smile.

A couple of seconds go by before he hears, "You're right." the petite girl realizes beside him, her tone slightly abashed. "I'm sorry. I've been hanging out with entitled cheerleaders all day, it must have rubbed off on me. Forgive me for feeling entitled enough to even comment on it. You're absolutely right, I don't own your body" Oh Bonnie.. but you do. "-do what you please with it"

Yeah, she really can't say stuff like that to him.

He's nearly so caught up in the thought that it takes a second for it to finally register what she's said about cheerleaders and how she hung out with them, willingly..

"And why would you subject yourself to that particular brand of hell?"

"Oh, did I not mention?" she remarks rather dully. "I made the cheerleading squad"

Kai nearly slams his feet on the brakes at the admission.

"Hold the fuck up." he spares a look at her, her pretty face watching him with subtle curiosity. "You're a cheerleader now?"

"Yeah," she rolls her eyes upward. Like she thought it was just as silly as he did. "You should see how ridiculous I look in the uniform too. I swear Caroline orders them two sizes too small on purpose"

Jeremy makes a suspicious sounding noise in the back that he's pretty sure is a moan.

And Kai can't even get mad. He gets it, the visual of Bonnie in a short, tight cheerleading skirt has his head spinning as well.

"You okay, Jer?" she questions, unaware that the moan had originated from a state of arousal and not pain.

"No, I don't think I am." Jeremy peters out, sounding pathetic.

Kai doesn't even look back at the other boy. He doesn't even want to know the amount of lust that has to be written on his friend's face. It will only piss him off.

He does notice though before looking at the road ahead again, a look of confusion on Bonnie's face. Does she really not get the effect she has on the male population? Even before this whole revamp, she was enticing. He's not sure if he's more pissed off by her extreme modesty or turned on by it.

"I get it. You guys think I'm ridiculous for joining the squad" she comments, beyond clueless.

"That's actually not what I was thinking.." Jeremy contradicts.

"Oh?"

"What he means is-" Kai cuts in before his friend can out himself as being a creep. "Cheerleading? Really? That's not you, Bon. You make fun of cheerleaders" he reminds her, quickly glancing at her then back at the road.

"No, Kai. You make fun of cheerleaders.."

He frowns then recalls she's right. "Oh, right." he utters out, pitchless. "Well, anyway, that's still not something we ever thought you'd be interested in."

"I'm not. Not really but I thought this would be a really good chance to finally rekindle my friendship with Elena. She's my oldest friend."

Of course that's what this is about. The whiny brunette.

"And yet she ditched you the first chance she got to be one of them. I don't see how you're even considering forgiving her, let alone want to be her friend again. If someone did that to me they'd be dead to me"

He told himself he wouldn't bring that shit up again considering how sad it made Bonnie the last time but his tongue was reckless, whipping shit out before completely thinking it through. Oh well, it's too late to take it back. The words were out there.

He steals a glance at her hoping to relay remorse with his eyes but she's not looking at him. She's staring off into the darkness ahead. Which wasn't a good sign. He's hurt her again. "I'm not like you, Kai. I can't just write people off so easily"

Is that what she thinks? That he casts people away like they were nothing?

"Wow." he drawls, eyes back on the road, there was a curvature up ahead that needed his undivided attention. "So now you're making me seem like some kind of asshole for having a sliver of dignity"

"Wow, so I have none then.." she says, sounding hurt.

"That's not what I said"

"That's totally what you said. Right, Jer?" Out of his peripheral, he sees her glance back at the other boy.

"What? Sorry I'm still stuck on you being a cheerleader"

Kai rolls his eyes. "I'm not saying you don't have any dignity. I'm saying you're too nice for your own good. I don't want to see you get hurt again. Is that so bad?"

"No, of course not" she says and he feels her fingers touch his that are settled on the gear shift. She really shouldn't do that while he was driving. Did she want them dead in a ditch? "I like that you care but-"

She removes her hand and he meets her eyes briefly, trying not to be bummed about how she's no longer touching him, "But what?" he says, curious.

"I'd just wished you'd be a little more understanding"

He frowns, eyes flicking away from hers. He doesn't say anything until he's made it past the winding road.

"What I understand is that Elena Gilbert is a snake. No offense Jer." he says, giving a quick glance in the rearview at the other Gilbert.

"Non taken" is Jeremy tepid response.

Satisfied he hasn't insulted his other friend, he finishes his thought, tone edging towards embittered, "She used that little sleepover Caroline invited you to years ago to weasel her way into that clique. She couldn't wait to ditch you for those losers"

Bonnie shakes her head exhausted. "You don't understand" he tone is just as wearied as her expression.

"You're right, I don't" he admits. And honestly, he hopes he never will.

---

"Are you going to watch her all night or are you going to at least attempt to dance with another girl?"

Kai wants to pretend like he hadn't heard the other boy but the music isn't loud enough to make it believable. They had finally made it to the party thirty minutes ago. And Kai has done nothing but watch Bonnie as guy after guy has tried their luck with her. She's standing by her new friends, the cheerleaders. Almost immediately after arriving they had ascended upon her like annoying gnats. He gave her a head nod letting her know he didn't mind if she left him to socialize. She hesitated, and he could tell she was worried about leaving him only after just getting here, especially since she had been the one to invite him. But being he doesn't need a babysitter, he told her to go with her friends.

"There are other girls here?" Kai comments then deadpans when he feels Jeremy stare still on his temple, "I'm joking" he blinks when the other boy just stares at him.

"No you're not," the older boy says unconvinced, "It's sad though because that cute girl has been staring at you all night" And when he gets no response from Kai.

"Are you even going to ask who?" he questions, a groove appearing between his brows.

"If it will shut you up, yes. Who, my friend, has been staring at me all night?" he says in a dragging note.

"Nine o' clock"

Kai glances to his left and sure enough. A pretty brunette is staring at him. Well, was.. She turned away the moment she was caught staring.

He studies her for a long moment then decides, "You're right. She is cute"

But what was cute compared to beautiful? Because Bonnie was beautiful. Every single girl here paled in comparison.

"Right and what are you going to do about that because clearly there's no hope for you and Bonnie"

He ignores the comment about he and Bonnie never happening, "I'm not interested" he voices pitchless.

"Because she's not Bonnie.." Jeremy deduces. God. Why the fuck was this dick giving him such a hard time about Bonnie? So what if he was pathetically in love with a girl who didn't want him back? Would rather be alone than to entertain anyone that wasn't her. Yeah, it was loser shit but damn let him be that in peace.

"Because I'm not interested.."

"Well, maybe I'll go chat her up then." Is this supposed to inspire a response? It doesn't. The fact has his friend going on, spitefully, "Better yet, maybe I'll go chat up Bonnie. She's looking hot as fuck tonight. Those legs..that ass.."

"Don't fucking talk about her like that" he's glaring at his friend. He wasn't going to let douchebags in the locker room talk about Bonnie like that and he damn sure wasn't allowing it from Jeremy either.

"Testy" Jeremy takes a sip from his solo cup, smirking. "Is this jealousy I'm witnessing?"

"No, this is irritation at you discussing our friend like she's a piece of meat"

"I see denial isn't just a river in Egypt"

"Whatever." Kai huffs out, over the conversation. He nods to where Bonnie was chatting with some dude he's never seen before. "Keep an eye on her. I'm going to go get a drink"

Jeremy's hand lands on his shoulder, "Wait, aren't you our designated driver?"

Kai levels his friend with a flat look. "A drink doesn't automatically equates to alcohol, Jeremy"

The other boy's face relaxes, "Just checking, cuz I plan on getting beyond tanked"

What was new?

"Watch it" Kai warns him. Jeremy had a way of getting beyond tanked every single time they went out, resulting in drunken shenanigans, blackouts and pitiful hangovers. He wasn't here to babysit. He had too much on his plate already like spying on Bonnie to keep track of Jeremy's liquor consumption. "Because if you throw up in my car, I'll kill you"

---

"Screaming trees." The cute girl who Jeremy pointed out earlier was speaking to him. She's pointing at his t-shirt. "I thought I was the only one who listened to them. I wasn't drooling earlier by the way. I was just admiring your T-Shirt" she explains, her dark eyes never leaving his.

He nods then fishes a bottle of water out of the cooler on the ground. "That doesn't sound like a lie at all"

When he unbends himself, his eyes fly back to her, her mouth is slightly ajar. He smirks because she was actually taking him seriously.

"No, seriously." she recovers, taking a sip of her Corona. "I don't know anyone who knows them, let alone enough of a fan to buy a vintage tee of them. It must have been so hard finding that"

"I attended Punk & Disorderly last year. Someone had a booth set up selling vintage tees. I happened to luck up. I even grabbed one of Warsaw Pakt"

"No way." she remarks impressed, dark eyes blown wide.

He takes a closer look at her, really looks at her. He was expecting for her to say who? But the fact that she genuinely seems to know them has graduated her from the cute girl who'd been caught staring at him to super intriguing girl with good taste in music. "You know them?"

"Do I? Needle time is one of my favorite albums. I have it on vinyl"

Who was this girl? No one ever knew the bands he listened to.

"Me too"'

At the confession, both sides of her mouth curl up in a flirty smile.

"I'm Anna" she fills him in, finally introducing herself.

"Kai"

---

One thing about attending a party with your best friend who you're secretly in love with is you notice every single person they talk to. You're all dialed in. It doesn't matter whether they're having a dude chat with one of their bros or if they're chatting up a pretty girl. At this precise moment though, her very pretty friend happens to be doing the latter.

Bonnie can't stand it. It's not like Kai doesn't talk to other girls. He's had his flings in the past, girls who listen to emo rock and flaunt purple and rose gold hair. Dress in nothing but black and always has something sarcastic to say. Girls completely opposite of her. But Kai doesn't really talk to girls, not saying her friends a whore but she knows that all he does is hook up with them. He doesn't want a girlfriend from what she can tell. But something nags at her about the one he's chatting up now. He's smiling. And Kai never smiles.

"Do you know that girl?" Bonnie is pointing to where the brunette is standing next to Kai.

Caroline wrinkles up her nose, which honestly she's not sure if it's due to the brunette or Kai. But if she had to guess, she's going with Kai. Caroline has never really truly interacted with Kai before but if Bonnie had to guess she'd say the other girl didn't regard him fondly. And she probably could blame this on Damon. No telling what he's spewing about her best friend behind his back.

"Yeah, her name's Anna. She just moved here."

That makes sense. She hadn't recalled seeing the other girl around before and she's seen everyone in the crap town.

"She's cute" which is true but she says it mainly because she doesn't want the blonde to know she's jealous.

"She is. I was actually thinking about asking her to try out for the squad but Becca pointed out how she looks like she buys all her clothes at garage sales so I decided against it because hello we have to look good as a collective, right? I mean, what kind of captain would I be if I didn't think about the betterment of the squad, you know? It only takes one to throw off the whole aesthetic"

"Right…" Bonnie nods at Caroline's vapid diatribe before changing the subject to the reason she's even at this party to begin with. "Have you seen Elena?"

"I don't think she's made it here yet." the blonde informs her, her eyes though are peeled on Matt who's chatting up some girl near the drink station. "Last thing I checked she was waiting for her mom to conk out from her bipolar meds. She's been super strict lately after she found out about Elena's secret boyfriend. I told her to slip her another pill just in case. So she should be here any minute now"

Wow, so we're roofying our moms now..

Bonnie doesn't know what to say to this.

Caroline obviously doesn't expect an answer because she moves on to the next topic, "Oh wait. There's something I wanted to tell you" she announces finally, giving a break on sending the poor girl Matt's talking to death glares to peer at Bonnie.

Bonnie eyes the blonde wearily, hoping that whatever it is has nothing to do with Damon. She's caught him watching her a few times but he hasn't come over to talk to her yet. Thank God. She can only pray it will stay that way.

"Damon's been asking about you non stop." The urge she has to let out a groan is something serious. "And I mean non stop. Dude will not shut up about you. It's actually getting kind of stalkerish now that I think about it" she goes on, her pink shiny lips frowning a little.

Bonnie nearly laughs, because it's a running joke around school about how Caroline is psychotically obsessed with her ex boyfriend Matt. So to deliver this is so ironic.

She doesn't mention the cheerleader's stalker tendencies though, just says instead, "Is this supposed to be selling me on him?"

"When I say stalkerish" she clarifies, stressing the word. "I mean scour your social media back a few years type of stalking, not the break into your house, steal your panties type"

"Right, thanks for the clarification" she nods primly.

"No, it's so cute though." the blonde is saying, flicking a sheet of perfectly straightened blonde hair off her shoulder. "He's totally crushing on you. And Damon doesn't crush on anyone"

"Lucky me"

The red solo cup that was making its way to the cheerleaders mouth stops mid route. She studies Bonnie silently for a few seconds then lets out an amused titter. "Is that sarcasm I'm hearing, Bonnie Bennett?"

"You caught me" she confesses, taking a sip of her own "punch".

"So I take it you're not interested then?"

How could she put this without trashing the other girl's close friend? Because lord knows if someone tried to come for Kai..Bonnie might be shy and timid for the most part but when it came to her best friend she didn't play. She thinks for a moment, no would have sufficed but a simple no wouldn't have really driven the point home. She's feeling charitable today so she goes with a simple, "Not even if he was the last guy on earth"

---

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" comes the words from her best friend as he drives her home. Kai had just got done dropping Jeremy off. Surprisingly the older boy hadn't gotten sloshed. Bonnie's proud of him. "Other than, you know.." Kai tacks on and her minds conjures up what happened earlier at the party..

Bonnie's pouring herself a cup of punch when her ex bestie approaches her at the drink station. "Hey" the cheerleader greets, a tentative smile pulling at her lips.

"Hey" Bonnie offers, trying to figure out if this was the other girl just being polite or if this conversation will lead to more.

When they awkwardly stare at each other for a few seconds she's the one to burst out, "What happened to us? One day you were my best friend and the next you didn't even want to be seen with me"

A divot forms between Elena's perfect brows. She looks utterly confused.

"Why are you acting like I'm the one who ruined our friendship?"

Bonnie's sure her expression is mirroring Elena's now. Because in this moment, she's sure she's never been more bewildered in her life.

"What are you talking about? You ruined our friendship." she throws out heatedly. "You're the one who decided you were too cool to hang with me anymore"

And God does it feel good to get that out.

"What? I never thought that." Elena denies, defending herself. Her tone, her expression rings true. "I stopped hanging out with you because you were talking shit about me"

Bonnie's head rears back, completely taken off guard, jade eyes blown wide with shock. "Elena what the fuck are you talking about?" Usually she's not the swearing type but damn it if this moment doesn't warrant it.

"You told Caroline that I was desperate to be popular." the other girl drawls, her dark eyes accusing. "That I was pathetic. That all I did was obsess over Matt like a creepy stalker. She said you told Matt this as well." Her eyes are piercing when she gets out the next words. "He started acting weird towards me around that time, so don't say you didn't tell him"

Bonnie's mouth plops open at the blatant lies Elena was told. When she gets over the shock, she says, denying it vehemently, "I didn't. I don't know what youre talking about. I never said any of that"

"What?" the word leaves the brunette's mouth airily, "You didn't?" the latter syllables getting louder but still sounding small with a hint of skepticism threaded in like she doesn't want it to be true because that would mean that she'd been mad at Bonnie for absolutely no reason at all for all these years.

"No, why would I say that?" Bonnie blinks at her, as if the action would snap some sense into the other girl, "You were one of my best friends" She and Kai were both equal besties to her at the time. She could never find herself to choose one over the other.

Realization finally hits the olive skinned girl. "So, Caroline lied.." It isn't a question. And then, venomously, "That bitch"

"She played us" Bonnie agrees a little too calmly. Not because she wasn't upset but because she was so upset it was numbing her response.

"I'm going to murder her" Elena was clearly not too numb to express her anger.

Oh how lovely would it be to off the blonde. They were in the woods already, it wouldn't be hard to hide the body, she thinks. But would killing Caroline really satisfy them? Initially yes, but long term, not so much. No, but taking away something she truly loved would though..

"No," Bonnie tells the brunette, a sudden gleam to her eyes. "I have a better idea"

---

They pull the conniving cheerleader away from the rambunctious party, leading her into a more private area, away from prying eyes and ears to break the news to her. "We came to tell you that you're off the squad" Elena is the one to deliver the news, it had been Bonnie's idea. For the simple fact that the brown eyed girl known Caroline longer, has been her best friend for years, it would sting more coming from the brunette.

The five foot eight blonde looks amused at first but when she sees they aren't laughing she spits out, indignant, "What?"

Her level of pissed-off-ness is probably at a five but Bonnie knows by the end of this interaction she'll be a raging ten.

Elena continues on, calm as a cucumber, "We took a vote. We've decided we don't want you leading us anymore. You're just not a good fit"

If that wasn't karmic justice. the same words she had delivered to so many cheerleading hopefuls, girls with excitement in their hearts, gleams in their eyes, desperate to make the squad only to be told, 'You're just not a good fit'.

"You're joking, right?" the other girl scrunches up her face, her eyes flicking over them all, like she's waiting for someone to yell out syke.

"No, actually we would prefer if Tiki were our captain" Elena continues, and there's murmured agreement from the other cheerleaders.

This seems to enrage the teen, "She can't even walk you stupid bitch" Caroline says nastily, her lips turning up into a snarl.

"Aye, don't talk to her like that" Bonnie comes to the darker haired girl's defense. She doesn't give a shit that she and Elena havn't been best friends in years, she's known this girl since the cradle. No way in hell was she letting some Regina George wannabe talk to her crazy.

"Who the fuck are you?" Caroline turns sneering eyes on Bonnie, her words practically dripping with ice. "You're a nobody" she enunciates carefully, so Bonnie understands. "I brought you into the squad. Don't you ever forget that" she warns, wagging an angry finger at her.

Bonnie wants to break the digit off but refrains, she'll be damned if she stoops to this heffa's level. "Oh, I won't. Just like I won't forget how you talked shit to me, a 'nobody'," she uses air quotes. "-about every member on this squad."

"Oh please with the lies" she rolls her eyes dramatically then resumes her lethal glare. "Come with something better than 'I talk shit about my friends'." she goes on in a droning voice. "It's not going to work, you need more people Bonnie boo"

Bonnie crosses her arms over her chest, cocking a head to the side, "So you didn't tell me last week that if it wasn't for the donations Samantha's family contributed to the squad that you would have kicked her off the team eons ago? Or that Riley has cankles and man hands and that you were questioning if she was even born female?"

Caroline laughs. "Nice try" she sneers at Bonnie and looks at the two offended parties, "She's a liar. Why are you guys even entertaining this?" Bonnie has to give it to her, she actually looks affronted.

"No one's lying, Care. You're a mean girl. We're just now calling you out on it" It's her ex-bestie that informs her of this.

"Oh, okay. So you guys are best friends again.." the blonde nods like she finally gets it. "Way to gang up on me so you guys can try to take over my squad. Newsflash," her blue eyes flashes with venom. "It's not happening" she lets them know, blinking pointedly.

"Oh, but it is, we voted. It's unanimous." Bonnie cuts in, letting Caroline know this was very much so real.

It must finally sink in, what's happening, because Caroline turns her ire on Bonnie, "You little bitch. I like fucking made you. No one would even be looking at you if I hadn't put you on the squad."

Bonnie lets out a maniacal laugh, "You think I need this squad?" she directs at the seething ex-cheerleader whose nostrils are practically exhaling fire. "I don't care about any of this." She goes on to say, her hand fanning out to gesture at the general vicinity around them, "The only reason I joined was-" she pauses, swallows then looks to Elena, "to get my best friend back." she admits, watching the other girl as a wan smile starts to appear on her face. It's a sad reminder of all the years they lost. She shakes her head, the morosseness away, continuing on, bringing her attention back to the shit stirrer herself. "You on the other hand, live, breathe and shit cheerleading." she tells the other girl, looking at her with piteous eyes. "It's the reason you wake up in the morning, your last thought before you go to bed at night. It's all you have. Well, had.." she corrects herself. "Now you have nothing"

And that's all it takes for Caroline to rush forward with the speed of a bull but Elena thanks to years of honing her cheerleading reflexes with lightning precision is blocking the other girl before she can get to Bonnie.

"Don't even try it" the brunette warns and Bonnie feels a warmth filling her chest at her former best friend defending her. For so long it had only been Kai doing it. Everything feels right again.

"Yeah," agrees Mandy, one of the squad's spotters. "You fuck with one of us, you fuck with us all" Her statement is basically highlighting the fact that Caroline was no longer considered one of them. She was an outsider now.

And at the declaration, Caroline, for the first time tonight looks defeated. Her eyes, that was filled with so much venom before softens as she directs them over to Elena, her up until now bestie, "I can't believe you're letting her get in between us" she accuses, speaking about Bonnie as if she isn't there.

And what a load of crap..

"You mean the way you got in between us four years ago?" Bonnie blinks at her, appalled at this girl's gall. The nerve of her. She was the entire reason she and Elena fell out. And she lets her know just that, "You took my best friend from me"

"No one can be taken, Bonnie" the blue eyed blond says in an insultingly slow drawl. "She came willingly"

"Because of the lies you spun," Bonnie responds just as slowly.

"You don't even see anything wrong with what you did" Elena pipes in, getting in on the action, she was after all the other half of the wronged party here.

"Oh, please," Caroline scoffs in bitch mode again. "You never wanted to be friends with Bonnie, that's why you were so thirsty to join our clique. I only took you in because-" but she stops before she could incriminate herself. But Bonnie finishes her thought.

"You only took her in because you were pissed that I turned your invitation to go to Whispering Pines down that summer. It boiled your blood, because who am I to turn you down, right? So, furious, you went for my best friend and then ruined our friendship"

"I'm done with this." Caroline decides, rolling her eyes. "No one can kick me off my squad. You guys have lost your fucking minds"

"It's already done. We notified Coach Jansen. She says as long as we all agree" Elena bursts her bubble.

That was a lie. They hadn't notified coach Jansen but they would via email in the morning. Elena doesn't think there would be any push back from the older woman but if there was, they have enough damning evidence on Caroline to convince the older woman otherwise.

"You're lying. Coach Jansen would never. She knows I'm the best thing to ever happen to this squad"

"See, it's comments like that that makes me think you don't value the rest of the squad members" Bonnie points out and there's agreement from her other cheermates.

Caroline's blue eyes are icy again, she directs her frosty glare at Bonnie, "Stay out of it bitch, you don't get to talk anymore."

"Call me one more bitch and I swear to God you'll regret it" Bonnie promises, tone just as nasty. She may be sweet and innocent and meek and whatever other label people want to throw on her but one thing she isn't is a coward, if Caroline wanted a fight she would give it to her. Plain and simple.

Caroline laughs. Genuinely laughs. "Are you fucking serious? I wi-"

"Shut the fuck up, Caroline. You're not going to do shit" Bonnie spits out, done with this bitch. She watches as the other girl rears back like she's been slapped. "You're all talk and you know it. Now you listen to me you little cunt. It's not my fault you're off the squad. It's yours. Take some accountability. You're a liar and a conniving bitch, the only thing I did was bring it to light" And when Caroline looks at her in confusion, she gives her a clue. "They know about every nasty thing you've ever said about them, every lie you've ever told, every rumor you've ever started. Did you really think you could go about talking shit about everyone and no one would ever find out?"

"Caroline glares at her, "Ah, you're so manipulative aren't you little Bonnie? And you guys are really falling for this shit. She's a liar." the blonde spits, accusingly. "Both of them." she turns to the other squad members. Her blue eyes going from wrathful to innocent. She bats them prettily and beseeches. "Don't believe them. They're jealous. They're making up shit to turn you against me"

"We're liars?" Elena laughs, pulling out her phone, getting the receipts. She starts to go through her texts, her words loud and clear as she starts to read from her phone, "Did you see what Kirstin had on today? Cellulite much? Seriously the girl's a cheeseburger away…Another pound and I'm kicking her fat ass off the squad"

She doesn't give Caroline a chance to rebuttal, moving quickly onto the next, "How fucking hot is Jecenia's boyfriend? You think she would be mad if I fucked him? Devil emoji"

And then the next.

"Why is everyone so mid? Is it me or are we the only hot girls on the squad? Crying emoji, laughing emoji, laughing emoji."

She doesn't stop there.

"If that stupid cunt Brittany keeps fucking up at games I'm going to throw her slow, short bus riding ass down a flight of stairs, I'm not fucking playing"

Bonnie glances at Brittany, sees the mortified look on her face, how every inch of it is turning beet red and just as quickly it's morphing into anger, her ears steaming. Brittany's not the brightest bulb in the pack but she didn't need to be insulted like that. Bonnie eyes her, noting how she looks like she's two seconds from storming the other girl. Caroline must see it too, the pure wrath on her cheermates face because she shrieks out, "Do not listen to them! They've concocted this entire scheme to get rid of me!"

Elena keeps on going, her voice rising significantly in pitch in attempts to drown out Caroline's desperate squeals.

"I swear these girls get on my nerves so fucking much, always whining about it being too much practice as if half these cows don't need the exercise."

Bonnie can actually hear the gnashing of teeth around her. When Bonnie and Elena had approached the girls earlier, they'd only shown them some of the other things Caroline had said but that had been just the tip of the iceberg. These were all new to them.

"That's it. I'm calling Coach Jansen" Caroline's decided.

Because when all else fails, tell on a bitch.

"Can I tell you a secret?" The threat doesn't deter Elena, she continues on reading as if Caroline hasn't spoken at all. "I may have fucked Coach Jansen's husband. Payback for the bitch yelling at me the other day. HAHAHA"

"But yeah, go ahead. Contact coach. I'm sure things will go your way" Bonnie says deadpanned, giving the cheerleader a super thumbs up.

"This has gone too far. That never happened!" Caroline frantically tells the girls but when she sees that no one cares what she has to say judging by the murderous glares they're giving her, she tries to rip the phone away from Elena but the cheerleader successfully dodges the attempt. "But I'm not done" she claims and Caroline tries again but Bonnie steps forward, blocking her, letting the blue eyed devil know she wasn't about to snatch anything away from the brunette. Caroline sends her a searing look but otherwise backs down.

Yeah, you better, Bonnie thinks.

"Vicky is such a whore. Can you believe she fucked that loser Enzo? So we're fucking drug heads now? Seriously, how low can you go? But I guess that's what happens when your moms a whore too."

And that was the straw that broke the camel's back. In that moment, chaos ensued. Vicky, after hearing the insult about her mom, rushed Caroline with the speed of a linebacker, grabbing hold of her hair, swinging her this way and that as her fist connected with her face. Straight up wailing on the girl. It took three cheerleaders to pull her off of the blonde.

Normally Bonnie doesn't condone violence, she thinks there's better ways of solving your problems than going full on barbarian but she would be lying if she said she didn't get a smidgen of pleasure out of seeing Caroline all puffy face and hair askew, effectively humbled. Vicky had ripped at least two handfuls of hair out. Not her precious blonde hair she'd gasped inwardly.

Kai had arrived just in time, tugging her away from the shit show, murmuring in a amused voice, "I guess you're off the squad now"

And he was right, although it was Bonnie's idea to oust Caroline from her own squad, cheerleading wasn't something she was passionate enough about to want to stick to doing. The only reason she joined the squad was to get some answers about her and Elena. And she finally got the truth as infuriating as it was.

She had explained the entire story to Kai and Jeremy, how Caroline had sabotaged their friendship on the way to dropping the older boy off.

"She should've known you'd never do something like that" Kai had said. Bonnie could tell he didn't fully absolve the other girl even though the circumstances of why they stopped talking had changed. Kai was never a big fan of Elena though, so she's not surprised by his response.

Jeremy had defended his cousin through and through, saying she was manipulated, even going as far as calling Caroline a master manipulator. The stoner boy claimed the brunette never confided in him about why she stopped talking to Bonnie, he had assumed like the rest of them, that being an insufferable was more appealing to her than hanging out with the misfits.

Kai's eyes are on her, she's always aware when he's watching her, years of pining, wanting, wishing for his stares has attuned her to when he is giving her his attention. This pulls her out of her thoughts. She glances at him, green meets curious blues, a single brow hiking on his tan forehead, the action letting her know he was waiting on her response. Right, he'd asked her if she'd enjoyed herself.

"Sure" she answers but the honest one was no. Hell no. Of course she didn't enjoy watching her friend, the guy she pretty much had a wedding dress already picked out for flirting with another girl all night. "What about you?"

"It was okay." he comments, his voice flat then flicking those smokey colored eyes her way he amends, tone filling with a hint of darkness. "I didn't have to murder anyone so I'd say it was a success"

Damon. Right. The football star actually kept his distance tonight. Maybe that blow up with Kai at her house earlier this week was what was needed to get him to back off.

"I'd say it was more than a success." she remarks trying incredibly hard to keep the bitterness from her tone. "Especially since you gained a new friend and all"

"What?" the word is dropped out incredulously, like he has no idea what she's talking about.

"The girl you were talking to.." she gives him a clue, nearly spits out but has to catch herself.

"Oh, Anna." he says so blase like. Like they hadn't been pulled into each other's orbit, giving each other heart eyes all night. They had been the living fucking emoji for chrisakes. "Yeah, she was cool" he tacks on, the response no more exciting than the last.

"And pretty too" she hasn't looked away from him since this whole conversation started, she wonders if that's creepy.

He doesn't even bother to look at her when he responds, "If you say so"

"You don't think so?" She finds herself blinking rapidly at him, not expecting this from him. He'd talked to her all night. What guy, straight guy talks to a girl all night that they didn't find attractive? It just didn't happen. Not in this day and age.

"Bonnie.." he starts, sounding frustrated but she interrupts him before he can lament on how awkward the conversation is.

"I know you feel like you can't talk to me about girls but you can. You can talk to me about anything Kai, we're best friends"

The sigh he gives tells her he wanted this conversation to end, expeditiously so. "There's honestly nothing to talk about"

She would scoff if it wouldn't make her seem like a bitter hag. Because seriously, it was such B.S. She wondered if she were Jeremy if he would have been acting the same way. So stingy with the details. She doubts it. Guys could be pigs about girls with other guys.

"So you don't like her?" she tries anyway, greedy for the response he doesn't want to give her.

"I don't even know her" he replies, reverting back to monotone syllables again, he couldn't sound more uninterested. Which should be a good thing except Kai sounds uninterested about everything.

"But do you want to?" she tosses him a sly smirk, it's fake of course. She's playing the role of the super nosey bestie digging for the deets on her bff's dating life because that was a part of her best friend duties, right? But in reality she's desperately trying to find out his feelings for this girl.

"What's up with you?" He finally looks at her, but not in the way she wants. He looks annoyed. "Why all the questions about some random girl I met at a party?"

In defense mode, she quickly shoots out, "Nothing's up with me." her words, snippy, wondering why the hell was he so annoyed right now. "I was just curious about how my best friend felt about a pretty girl he met at a party. I thought we could talk about this stuff but nevermind"

"You wanna talk about this stuff? Really?" he asks, his eyes flicking from her then back at the road again.

"I do"

His head is nodding slowly, almost angrily. She thinks she sees his nostrils flare. "Okay, let's talk about it then. What do you wanna know?"

I want to know if you want to fuck her.. obviously.

"Do you like her?" She cleans it up.

"I like her. Next question" his brisk responses were every indication that this conversation wasn't his favorite topic and yet she couldn't drop it, especially not after that admission.

Rage was kindling deep in her gut but she tries to remain calm. So what he liked her? She'd figured this already. The real question now was how much did he like her?

So she asks, ignoring the pulsing in her eyes, adding a teasing lilt to her tone–she can't have him thinking she was jealous, "Did you kiss her?"

She doesn't think he did, she'd been watching him pretty much all night but there was that half hour or so she went off to confront Caroline that he hadn't been in her orbit, so she has to be sure.

"No" A torrent of relief spread through her.

It only lasted a hot second through because his answer had prompted her brain to bring forth another question. It takes her a while to spit it out, because honestly she was scared to hear the answer. "Did you want to?"

God. This was so hard for her, grilling him about another girl. Why couldn't she just tell him how she felt? Why was she such a coward?

"Honestly, no." he sighs out, sounding less piqued and she nearly lets out a sigh herself albeit one of relief. She really hoped he was telling the truth because if not, she'd have to kill this girl. "There wasn't that..that..pull you know? I don't know how to explain it" he admits, shaking his head, sounding mildly frustrated that he can't articulate himself properly.

"I get it." she says in a small voice. It's so low it barely registers with her own ears.

"Do you?"

"Yeah," she admits, her head moving up and down in small increments. "It's a feeling like no other." she explains quietly, eyes falling away, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. "I would call it chemistry but I think it's more than that."

"Yeah?" She hears him say but she doesn't dare look up at him.

"It's butterflies in your gut. Heat prickling your skin. The fluttering of your heart. Giddiness filling your whole being" She tries not to but swallows anyway. "It's that feeling, like you can't take your eyes off that person. They have you so dialed in that nothing else in the world matters in the moment but them. You want to be with them every minute of the day, be whatever they want you to be, just so that you can have them forever.." She sighs aloud then finally looks at him, heat prickling her cheeks, meeting his eyes, feeling like she may have gone too far, finally having given herself away. She's panicking inside at the way he's staring down at her through thick dark lashes, his smokey blue orbs so incredibly intense as he watches her back and then the crinkles start to form at the corners, "See you were always so much better with words than me" his smile is sweet. Sugary like molasses and she wants so badly to taste it.

Internally she sighs, knowing it will never happen. He will eventually fall for some girl, if not Anna, someone else. Someone who shared his interest. Because what Bonnie never wanted to acknowledge was how different she and Kai were. She was a morning person, he was not. He liked punk rock, she R&B. His favorite pastime, playing video games. Hers, reading a good romance novel. She liked pineapple on her pizza, he thought it was an egregious offense. He thought Beyonce was overrated as fuck, she was willing to cut him for the disrespect. He thought skipping school was no big deal, her body filled with anxiety at the mere thought. They were polar opposites. He must have known it too, it's most likely why he couldn't see her past being more than a friend.

"Did you get her number?" Again she's making sure her tone is light and uncaring. Like she was having a normal conversation with her best friend.

And he actually does groan this time, his mood souring at the start up of her questioning again. "No, Bonnie. I didn't want it" His jaw sets and she wants to ask him why. She knew guys didn't need that love at first sight feeling when it came to hook ups. Normally all that was required was a cute, willing girl. And to be honest, cute wasn't even a necessity, just a willing girl pretty much was all that sufficed.

There's a long silence where she doesn't know what to say next.

"You didn't mingle too much tonight" he comments when the silence stretches on for too long.

This gets a smile to tip her lips, because although this was him trying to change the subject, it also told her something. Something that gave her a bit of hope to live on. "You were watching me?"

He scoffs. Everything about it is indignant. "You make it sound so perverted. I was merely looking out for you"

Inside she deflates, of course he was just being a good best friend. This was Kai, he had always protected her like a big brother would..like he would Josie..

Jesus. He saw her as a little sister, though technically she was older. But If that wasn't a wake up call she didn't know what was..

"That's cute." and then in a more sober note. "But I can take care of myself, Kai" Bonnie may barely be over five feet but she was no weakling, if anything being Kai's best friend all these years has taught her how to defend herself.

His eyes are hard as he frowns down at her. "I know you think Damon and his roidcase buddies are pretty harmless but you're not subjected to the locker room talk like I am. They're horndogs."

Especially Mckittrick. Kai doesn't think he's known a more depraved d-bag in his life.

This very conversation taking him back to earlier this evening. How he'd seen the prick Damon watching Bonnie from afar, plotting, scheming..he'd heard rumors involving his best friend, that Damon was going to try to deflower her tonight. He'd also heard murmurs of a bet, which scumbag in Damon's circle of friends could secure the victory. He hadn't heard it come from either of the bonehead jocks but why would they discuss such things in front of him? Not if they wanted to live. No, this was all locker room talk, something Jeremy heard. But Kai hadn't cared where it came from, just that he would make it very known to Damon that if he even thinks about touching Bonnie he'd be missing a limb real quick. So the second Damon had headed off to take a leak, Kai followed, he'd excused himself from the conversation with Anna, muttering an excuse about having to pee himself.

His thoughts pull him into the memory.

"You really shouldn't wander about the woods by yourself." he'd said into the dark night, coming up on the other boy. "Something bad could happen" the threat was clear as day.

Damon had whirled around, looking genuinely startled, but also there had been indignation in his gaze at being caught with his guard down but the expression didn't last long, morphing into a look of complete amusement.

"Oh, it's you." he'd said, moving in closer, his blue eyes appearing nearly colorless in the dark night. "Don't tell me that I was the one you really wanted all along? And here we all thought it was Bonnie.."

Kai had ignored the clear attempt to provoke him. "Forget whatever plans you have with Bonnie. It's not happening"

"Still pretending to be the super best friend, huh?" the other boy had said, smirking in that sickening obnoxious way he always did. Kai had wanted to rip those taunting lips off his weasley face.

Self control wasn't a thing Kai normally had when it came to doucheface, but he needed to get his point across before physicality entered the chat.

"Touch her and you're fucking dead"

"Someone's jealous.." the teasing lilt had come. The asshole, smirking like an idiot, like the whole thing amused him. But of course it had, making a bet to take the virginity of the shyest girl in school was a game to him.

Kai had stepped forward, getting right into the cocky boy's face, he'd felt the hard lines etch into his features, the tightness in his voice, "You think I don't know about the bet you and your buddies have going?"

And finally that silly smirk was gone. His expression had started to turn ugly. "I don't fucking care what you think you know" he'd said in that condescending way the insufferables always spoke in to people who they thought were beneath them, which was pretty much fucking everybody.

"But you should" the steps inching in even closer, menacingly so, "-being It's a matter of life and death for you"

Damon had tipped his head back and laughed, a hearty guffaw, and when it was over and the amusement had lessened on his features. He'd said, cocked his head just slightly, still a smidgen of humor to his voice, "You're really batshit, aren't you?"

"I am" Kai had nodded, agreeing, hardly offended. "Which means, I mean it when I say I will kill you."

A scowl had taken over the other boy features and when he spoke his lips had curled back in anger, his words course, "You shouldn't toss around idle threats-"

"Oh, trust me," Kai had calmly cut in, "This is no threat. It's a promise. Stay away from her"

Damon had narrowed his eyes at him, his tone on the edge of wondering, "You're that scared, huh? That I'm going to take the girl of your dreams.."

"You don't want her. You want to ruin her" he'd felt like he'd been avoiding goads like land mines.

"You're not denying it," The other boy had picked up on Kai's clear evasion, a quirk to his lips. "That you're in love with her but why would you? It's so obvious" As much as he hated Damon fucking Salvatore, one thing he couldn't say was that the other boy was an idiot. He was in love with Bonnie to the point it was worrisome. Unhealthy. Because how much was considered too much to think about another person? Twelve hours a day? Sixteen? The fucking entirety of it?

"And it's obvious that you're bitter that she's known you her whole entire life and she's never looked twice at you in that way. That she detest you. That she thinks you're literal scum of the earth"

The football star nostrils had been full on flaring at that point.

"Ah, struck a nerve have we?" Because Kai could goad too.

Damon must've realized how bothered he was coming off, and because it didn't align with the easy confidence he liked to present so often, he'd allowed the fury to recede from his features, "If I'm so off her radar then why the threats now? I'm no competition for you, right?"

Yet another attempt to incite he'd ignored, he did answer the other boy's question though on why he was threatening him, "Because I don't want you even breathing near her, you or your rapey friends"

And like that, anger appeared again, sharp and spiking, morphing the other boy's angular features, he had felt the cold fury radiating off his form.

The way Damon knew mentioning Bonnie would set Kai off, Kai knew insulting Damon's friends was a trigger for him.

Damon had pushed forward, jaw locking. Stepped up to Kai the way MMA fighters did before a match began.

Do it. Do it so I can fucking murder you. Kai had inwardly willed, fist balling at his sides. He'd remembered wanting it so badly. That need to mark up pretty boy's face had resonated deep in his bones. But a voice had cut into the tense atmosphere before any blows could be thrown.

"Kai?" the voice had called, wary. He recognized the tone right away. Jeremy. He must've seen Kai follow Damon off into the woods. Or maybe he'd noticed that they both were missing from the festivities and put two and two together. That was the difference between his friends and Damon's; they looked out for one another. Kai hadn't turned to look at his friend, no, his eyes had remained locked on Damon whose expression hadn't lessened in rage since the other boy joined them. He recalls his ears registering shoes crunching on leaves, indicating the other boy approaching from behind.

"Hey, everything good?" this question, Kai'd known, hadn't been directed at them both. It had been for him soley. It was Jeremy's way of letting Kai know he had his back. But Kai wasn't down for that whole jumping bullshit. He's had that happened to him way too many times to be cool with it. He prided himself at being a fair fighter, always have been, the same couldn't be said about silver spoon here. His eyes still hadn't broken away from Damon as he'd answered, "I don't know. Is it?"

Damon had held his gaze for a long moment before finally allowing it to flick to the interloper, because that's what Jeremy was, unwanted, his blue eyes then pinging back and forth between the two like he was trying to suss out the situation.

Kai had put the other boy at ease, letting him know there would be no double teaming going on, "We're good." he'd assured his friend. "Just having a friendly discussion. You can head back to the party" he'd ordered of the other boy, recalling how out of his peripheral he'd seen Jeremy not budge an inch.

A tick had formed in his jaw. "Jer, I said we're good" he'd strained out, starting to get annoyed. He hadn't wanted Damon to get intimidated, he wanted this to play out like he knew it would have before Jeremy showed.

"I know" Jeremy'd said in an overly casual way that informed Kai he wasn't going anywhere. And that's when it had hit him, Jeremy wanted a fight with Damon as badly as he did.

Kai turned around, ready to speak but Damon got there first, moving around Kai to clap Jeremy on the shoulder "Jeremy" he'd said, a smirk having slithered over his lips, "Always the faithful friend" but it was said like an insult.

He'd watched Jeremy jerk Damon's hand from off his shoulder but the other boy just laughed, "Loyal even to a fault. We could use someone like you in our crew" he'd told the stoner boy as if he was offering a precious jewel to a petty thief.

Jeremy snorted and Damon had pretended not to hear it as he tried to slither off.

Kai wasn't having it though, in a growly tone he'd called out, "Where the fuck are you going, asshole?" Fuck if they were done having this conversation. He doesn't even give a shit if Jeremy hangs around at this point, they were having this out.

"Always a pleasure, Parker" Salvatore waved, not turning around, his smug tone grating to Kai's steaming ears. Kai made to go after him but Jeremy was in front of him in seconds, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Don't" he'd warned, his tone firm.

Kai reared back, unbelieving of Jeremy right then. Wasn't he all for a little tag team ass kicking just a minute ago? The fuck has changed since then?

"He's going to go after Bonnie." Kai gritted out. "He thinks he's going to-"

He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to speak the words. That's how much it pissed him off to think about. If Damon ever got his hands on her, he would torch the earth.

"Bonnie's not an idiot, Kai." he heard Jeremy say, patronizingly. He blinked his eyes open, narrowing scrutinizing eyes on his friend. "You really think she's going to sleep with Damon, someone she hates?"

The obvious answer was no, but it wasn't a matter if Bonnie would sleep with him but what Damon was willing to do once he found out Bonnie wasn't here for his charming gentleman act.

"I know she wouldn't." he spit out, testily. "But I don't trust him. He's a fucking scumbag."

Jeremy mashed his lips into a hard line of doubt, "He's a lot of shit but I don't think he's that"

Kai wanted to scoff, because he would never put anything past Damon. Instead, he'd shook his head, deciding it was best to not get into that with his friend. There wasn't enough time in the day to have that conversation. "I'm getting her out of here, you can stay and mingle with the trash if you want"

And that's exactly what he had done.

"Noted, stay away from Damon and his horndog friends" she nods obediently but he wonders if she truly gets it. What trash they are.

"Honestly, I'd include the entire football team on that list. Hell, let's go ahead and add all the guys in our senior class to be safe" he jokes but not really.

If Bonnie stayed away from every guy for the rest of her life it would be just peachy for him.

"Now you're just being insufferable." she throws at him, her cheeks lifting, the easy grin brightening up her pretty features. His heart flutters. And he hates thinking his heart can even do that.

He clears his throat, getting his bearings together, shifting his gaze back to the dark night, "Okay, maybe not our entire class. Definitely the athletes" he says with forced casualness.

He hears a tiny tinkle leave her lips. And just like her smile, her laughter would also be the death of him. He wanted to be the reason she laughed. He wanted to be her everything.

"How about you just make a list of all the guys you do approve of," she suggests helpfully.

"Oh, Bonnie," he slides a lazy smirk her way. "-there is no list"

This seems to shock her because she implores, casting inquisitive eyes his way, "No one?"

He's silent.

"Really, Kai? There has to be someone you approve of" she continues to fish. Her need to continue to explore this line of questioning unsettles him. Did she really not know how he felt? How utterly perfect he thought she was and how every guy in school would be batting out of their league if she ever gave anyone a chance. Which he hoped would never happen. It's unrealistic he knows, to expect someone as desirable as Bonnie to remain single for the remainder of her highschool career. Because as miserable as the thought is, it was an inevitable conclusion. Eventually some loser would strike her interest, break down those walls she has barricaded around her heart because defenses were obviously there. Out of the decade he's known Bonnie, she's never considered dating. Atleast expressed any interest to him about it. Even when Nora tried to play matchmaker and set her up with her book worm relative it was an emphatic no from the petite girl. And Kai had to admit based off of personality traits alone they were a perfect match. Both quiet, shy, cared way too much about school, head never not buried in a book–seriously, studious to the point it was annoying. Kai considered the thought that maybe Bonnie wasn't interested in dating the male version of herself but he didn't think that was it. She was just smart, obviously saw what hounds guys could be and opted out of being some guys' next victim, cause even the book worms could be sleazes as quiet as it's kept. He's always admired her obvious distrust for his species, because it meant she couldn't be stolen away. He doesn't care their relationship isn't romantic–call him possessive, controlling, whatever, he doesn't care, Bonnie was his. She just doesn't know it yet.

"No one's good enough for you" he finally admits.

Not even me…

Fuck, he hopes he doesn't sound like the leads in those sappy movies she loves to watch.

"Aw" her dainty little hand falls over her heart, her expression softening at his words. "That's so sweet" she croons, her pretty mouth pushing out in that way that always manages to fluster him.

Kai swallows, feeling awkward but also not knowing how to respond without incriminating himself, so he goes with, "Whatever" looking back at the road, putting all his energy in not hitting a deer because these roads could be really fucking dangerous at night, fuck madmen and demented hitchhikers, wild animals were the true threats in Mystic Falls.

He feels her eyes on him, peering into his temple. A couple of seconds of this goes by before she finally asks, "Do you want to spend the night?" but it's not in her normal raspy tone, the one that stirs something within him, no, her voice sounds funny..

This inspires him to take a peek at her, investigate what's changed but her expression is all ironed out like the squealing she'd just done had never happened. Squinting his eyes, he inquires of her, "Is your dad going to be okay with that?" Because hello, that is what he should be concerned about considering their last interaction, which he's yet to tell Bonnie about. It's embarrassing and Kai's hardly embarrassed. He's been picked on his entire life so he's pretty much immune to the emotion.

"Of course." she looks confused at his question, but then she must put together why he's asking, because her mouth tips up in a teasing smirk, "You just have to sleep in the den where they can spy on you in the middle of the night to make sure you're not defiling their daughter"

He finds himself grimacing at her words, because it's true, the duo with their constant need to interrupt their alone time, with the guise of providing them with snacks and annoying questions about Kai's personal life. Maybe Abby was genuinely interested in how his mom was doing, how school was going, but Kai knew for a fact Rudy couldn't give a shit about any of those things. He was only in Kai's face to relay his silent threat, fuck with my daughter and I'll kill you dead. "They do know we're not dating, right?" Because as much as he hated it, it was a fact, something he would soon have to rectify because his feelings only ever seemed to be growing but for now, this was the reality.

"They don't care." she relays amusedly. "All they know is a seventeen year old boy will be in the same vicinity as their seventeen year old daughter for various unsupervised lengths of time."

Kai lets out a lengthy sigh, not sure if he was in the mood to deal with her father's suspicious looks. He was still in a shitty mood from the party, watching all those douches hit on Bonnie. It was his own personal hell and he had to stand there and take it. Thank God he was able to distract himself with a pretty girl so he didn't do something stupid like rip out someone's spleen for flirting too heavily with her. Or touching her. Or looking like they wanted to touch her...Fuck. Then there was the shit with Damon…

"So, are you coming?" she breaks into his thoughts, her words too peppy for his shitty mood. "We can have a movie marathon night" she sing songs as if that would be enough to entice him. Throw in a kiss and we're talking.

"Unless you're giving me free reign, that would be a negative" he decides. Yeah, it was best he stayed home tonight. Make a night out of dissecting the conversation he and Bonnie had earlier about Anna, if he could call it that, because for him it felt more like an interrogation. And for a split second there, he thought she was jealous, but then when the constant compliments came about how pretty the other girl was, like she couldn't believe Kai wasn't head over heels in love with her..thought him dumb to not go for it.. Yeah, it gutted him that she could see him with other girls and not care. That should be the catalyst to end this decade long crush but then his mind flashes back to how the world had stood still the moment Bonnie had stepped out of her home earlier. She'd rendered him speechless and functionless, all he could do is stare and mentally scold himself for ever befriending her. If he could tell his seven year old self to avoid her like the plague..because nothing had been so torturous, this longing he always felt around her that never seemed to go away..

Who is he kidding? He would endure every torturous moment again if it meant he could just be in her orbit because when he allowed himself to actually forget she wasn't his, it was bliss. It felt natural being around her. He never had to search for things to say to her, the conversation ever flowing, the energy always right. They just got each other. Could completely be themselves around each other without worrying about judgement. She made it easy for him to be his true self. And he knew it was the same for her.

"What does that mean?" She takes offense to his demands of having free reign. "Are my cinema picks not up to your standards?"

He looks at her briefly before bringing his eyes to peer back out the windshield, wanting to laugh at how vexed she looks. "All you want to watch are rom coms, so no. And since when did that even start? I could've swore up until recently your fav genre was horror"

That was something they bonded over, binging slasher flicks until the early hours of the morning when they weren't even old enough to watch them. But Bonnie had an insane ability to know when her mom would check in on them so they were never ever caught.

"I'm a romantic." she admits proudly. Which was something he'd had figured out months ago when the rom coms were being integrated in their marathons more and more. Eleven year old Bonnie would scoff at seventeen year old Bonnie's taste in flicks. "Sorry my heart isn't made of stone like yours, Grinch"

"Oh, you think I'm heartless?" he whirls at her, taking a split second to peer at her, his pierced brow edging upward. "Heartless would have been sitting back and allowing Damon to execute whatever nefarious plan he had brewing in that diabolical head of his" he finishes, it hadn't been his intention but he ended up sounding quite bitter.

She lets out a gust of air. "I know you have my back in that sense. What I mean is, you don't care much for courting girls or anything.."

"Courting?" He tosses her a funny look. "What is this, the 1800's?" And was that what she really thought? That he had no desire to date? He wanted to blurt so bad, No Bonnie, I just don't want to date those girls..you, however..

"See you're always making fun of me" she sighs, all pouty, studying his profile, watching as one side of his mouth rides up.

"I'm only kidding. You know I love the fact that you talk like you're in a Jane Austen novel"

"I hate you" she decides.

He laughs, a nice throaty sound. The sound is so sexy she wants to crawl over into his lap, mid drive and all.

"Oh Bonnie, I'd believe that if you weren't constantly following me around all the time" she can see even from side profile that he's smirking.

"Lies. You follow me" she accuses, shifting in her seat to fully face him as she gets her point out. "Exhibit A, Tylers party tonight. Admit it you can't spend a single second without me"

"You got me." he confesses flatly. "I'm obsessed with you. It's why I put up with your horrible taste in music"

And like that Billie Eilish's crooning is no longer filling the car. He flicks the stereo in radio mode and rock music starts to blare from the speakers.

"Hey, I liked that song" she shoots at him, glaring hard.

"Yeah, that's sort of the dilemma here." he muses, sounding unapologetic. "Ultimately though, what it comes down to is you're in my car which means I get free reign on music selection. These are the rules"

Her brows bunch on her forehead. "Rules from where? The 'How to be a rude fuck at all times' handbook'?"

She watches a smile appear on his lips. He doesn't look at her though so she's not able to really bask in it. "Well aren't we becoming the sassy little cheerleader? Stereotypical much?"

"This from the emo boy who doesn't emote" she throws back at him.

Another smirk. His eyes are still on the road, she wants him to look at her. "Good one. Your quips are getting better. And it only took" he starts counting on one hand while maintaining the wheel with the other, "An entire decade. Good job"

"Shut up" she can't help but smirk. He was such a smart ass.

"Ah, see. nevermind" he comments at her lame comeback.

She hits him on the arm.

"Stop assaulting me" His blue eyes land on her. Finally. She wants his gazes constantly.

"Stop being an ass" she counters, holding his stare briefly before they are back to his task at driving.

"When are you going to admit that that's my best quality" comes that low honeyed tone again. The boy could recite the ABC's and she would swoon.

"Newsflash Kai, girls don't actually like it when boys are mean to them" she educates him in a slow drawl.

"They don't? That's Interesting." he frowns up, confused. "Who would have thought with all the bully romances you read"

Her eyes go wide as saucers.

Wait, did he just say..

"And what's up with the whole reverse harem thing?" he continues in a curious tone, taking a glance at her. She's sure it's not for engagement purposes but so that he could witness her absolute mortification. "I didn't take you for the polyamorous type but who am I to judge.." Her mouth drops even further if that were possible.

"What?" He smiles obnoxiously at her. "Didn't think I knew about your peculiar taste in literature? Here's a tip." he offers helpfully, "Next time don't leave your sex books lying around all willy nilly." exaggeratedly, he shakes his head like he's disappointed with her. "Such an amateur. At least tuck them under your mattress like a normal horny teenager. Because If I found them, I can't imagine that your parents haven't already"

"They were not lying around." she snips at him, finally finding her voice though the mortification lingers. "You went looking for them" she accuses, glaring hard.

He had to. She would never leave those lying around for her mother to find. Abby, as cool as she is, doesn't know the definition of privacy. She's super invasive, going through her room all the time. She's not sure what she's looking to find..secret love letters? Open condom wrappers? Who knows? All she's for sure is she's worse than Grams had been when it came to snooping.

"God, you just think the worst of me, don't you?" he says offended but she knows him well enough to know it's false. "Nice try though with trying to deflect. I get it though, you're mortified. But there's no need to be. We all have our kinks, right?"

"It's not a kink" she spits out, finally having summoned some of her dignity back. "You make it sound so immoral. I don't actually want to be with multiple people. It just makes for a spicy read is all"

"Ah," he nods in understanding. "The smut is what reels you in." and when his eyes find her they're wickedly amused. "Naughty girl"

"Ugh, can we not talk about this?" she shifts uncomfortably in her seat, turning to look out the passenger window instead of his beautiful taunting face. How did the evening go from her grilling him about Anna to him mercilessly teasing her about her bully romances?

"Look at you, you're positively blushing" he says adoringly, reaching over and pinching her cheek. She slaps his hand away.

"I'm going to kill you on this empty road. And then I'm going to let the coyote's consume your corpse. And then I'm going to bury your bones where no one will ever find them" she promises, her eyes peering out the window, watching the trees whirl by.

"You are a truly sick individual, you know that?" His comment has her glancing at him. He has the nerve to sound scandalized. "You sure those bully sex books are the only depraved things you're reading?"

Another wave of mortification fills her anew.

"You know what? I'm taking back my invitation." she tells him, deciding she's had enough of his company for one evening. "I don't want you to spend the night at my house"

"Yeah, that invite was non-rescindable. Nice try though" There goes that obnoxious smirk again.

"Welp, it's settled." Bonnie comments, sighing dramatically. "I'll just have to make your stay an absolute living hell then"

---

Bonnie should have realized what was going on way before she did. After the first suspect turn it should have been clear to her but she thought maybe he was taking a detour but he clearly isn't. But just to be sure, she throws out there, "This isn't the way to my house.."

"Change of plans" Kai says simply, offering nothing more.

"Kai.." she hedges in a warning tone.

"Sorry, cheerleader." he glances at her, not looking sorry at all. In fact, he was grinning like a cat with cream. Obnoxious ass. "We're going to my house instead"

"Unbelievable" she gusts out, irritated. She doesn't know why she's surprised, she should expect this from him. He's that petty. And he confirms it with his next words.

"You think I would ever allow you to have that amount of power over me? Happily give you the opportunity to mistreat me all night? Come on Bennett, you know me better than that." he tsks. "Besides, I have a better horror selection than you and not to mention games and snacks. Plus" he stresses the word, enticingly. "-we won't have to worry about your parents hovering all night"

"They don't hover" she offers lamely, attempting to take up for her parents. But who was she kidding? They totally hovered.

"Please." he scoffs harshly. "Checking in on us every five minutes isn't hovering? I swear your dad thinks I'm going to steal his precious little girl's virtue right up under his nose or something" Another scoff and inwardly she cringes. It was the way he'd said it, like the thought of doing such things had never crossed his mind. Was completely incomprehensible. Totally confirming that he only saw her as a friend. She could lament on the fact, think about it obsessively for the rest of the night, ruining the remainder of her evening. But she doesn't, she pushes the rejection to the far recesses of her brain, putting as much scornful derision in her tone as he had, "I told them we weren't like that. That we don't see each other that way.."

"Well, I don't think your dad got the memo." he says, not looking at her but she doesn't need to see his expression to know it's filled with bitterness, it's all over his tone. "He had a little chat with me the other day about our relationship. He wanted to know exactly what it consisted of and when I told him we were just friends, he not so subtly told me to keep it that way"

She knew her dad had his suspicions about her and Kai's relationship–as if she could ever keep that big of a secret from them. She was an absolute terrible liar. Seriously could not tell a convincing lie even if her life depended on it. But not once had she ever thought he would confront her best friend about it. It irritates her to know her father was harassing Kai, doing the whole, 'If you even look at my daughter' act. It was so eye roll worthy. And archaic. But also now her best friend doesn't feel comfortable coming over anymore. He doesn't feel comfortable doing something they've done a thousand times over the past ten years all because her dad wanted to be Mister overprotective all of a sudden. "I'm going to kill him." she promises. "I can't believe he said that to you. I'm so sorry, Kai" And she meant it. She couldn't have her dad scaring off one of the only true friends she had. Yes, the cheerleading squad had been super nice and welcoming with their glittering smiles and never ending compliments but they weren't her friends, not the way Kai, Jeremy or hell, even Nora was.

"It's cool." he shrugs, hardly putting any effort into it. "But your father threatening my life is not how I want to spend my weekend, so my place it is"

And now she doesn't feel so opposed to him hosting their campover this time. "What am I going to tell them? I have curfew." she sulks in her seat, thinking how they were definitely back from the fundraiser by now, it was almost midnight. One thing about her parents, they weren't the stay out til the early hours of the morning type of people, Kai parents on the other hand.."They're expecting me to be home any minute now"

He tosses her a strange look. "Have you never lied to your parents before? Tell them you're spending the night at Nora's" Because Bonnie spending the night over another girl's house(even if said girl was a lesbian) was way more acceptable to her parents than her spending the night over a boy's house–best friend or not.

But her parents aren't idiots..

"They won't believe that" she sighs out, dejectedly. He'd have to take her home.

"They will." Kai argues. And when his next words flow out, they're quite matter-of-fact. "You're a good girl." And the way his lips lean up lets her know he's teasing her about the fact. "They'll trust whatever you tell them because you have never given them a reason to distrust you otherwise."

And when she hesitates, he reaches for her phone. The sigh he heaves out lets her know just how much of a coward he thought she was. "Jesus Bennett, why can't you feel guiltless about lying to your parents like everyone else? I swear you have me really questioning whether I want to be your friend right now"

She knew he wasn't serious but it still stung. She snatches her phone back, snipping at him, "I'll do it." but then hesitates, voice turning timid. "Just give me a minute to work up to it first. Besides, it's a crime to text and drive" she reminds him.

"Oh my god" he grouses.

She can't help but grin, poking at his side. "You know you're cute when you're irritated?" If he wanted to tease her she could do the same.

"Shut up and text" he orders, not bothering to look at her.

"Okay, okay. Grouch" She lets in a steady breath of air. She's about to punch in her passcode when she hesitates, the only thing that gets her to go through with the act is a dark look from Kai.

Thirty nail biting seconds later, Bonnie gets a response, her eyes widening in surprise, "Oh my god. They believed it" Her eyes fly to Kai but he looks unimpressed.

"Of course they did." he responds in a spiritless tone. "Why would they expect their perfect, straight A student–haven't so much as taken a peppermint without asking– daughter to start rebelling now?"

"Ew" she frowns up at him, nose scrunched. "You make me sound like some goody goody" Bonnie's not dense, she knows she's viewed by most as the good girl, okay–by all. But Kai makes it seem like she's some obnoxious saint.

Kai puts on his blinkers, stopping at the stop sign ahead. "I mean you nearly had a panic attack at the mere thought of telling one little white lie just now so.."

And when she's quiet, he glances at her. Seeing her sulking pathetically, he adds, "I mean, you read porn, so how goody goody can you really be, right?"

He thinks he's making her feel better but really he's only irritating her more. "I don't read porn. It's erotica" she corrects him, testily.

"Potato, potato"

"It's tomato, tomato" she stresses through clenched teeth.

"Whatever." he remarks, dismissively. "Point is, that shit you read is porn. Trust me, this is coming from someone well versed on the subject."

"Of course you are, perv" she hits him in the arm, teasing. "You sure you even want me coming over? It's not going to interrupt your plans of jerking off, is it?"

A slow smile spreads over his lips and then he's speaking in a taunting voice. "Aw, you're mad? Did I make you feel like a heathen?" And then he slides her a filthy grin. "Don't pout," he says without any pity at all. "I thought you wanted to be bad"

She feels her face flush. Embarrassed, she gets out, flustered, "I never said that" and it comes out all whiney. God, why did this boy always get her so riled up? Even without trying, he manages to work her nerves. It's weird because just as fast, he could get her all flushing and hot, wanting to jump his bones. It's a mystery she will never understand.

How it's possible to see the heat on her cheeks in the dark cabin of his car she has no clue but clearly he does because he comments, his voice pitying, "Aw, Bonster, you didn't have to."

---

"Evil dead or Evil dead" Kai questions, holding up the respective 1983 and 2013 version in the air for her to choose from.

They were down in his basement, where he practically lives when he's at home. Seriously, he spends more time down here than he does in his own room. And everyone seems to give him his space, even his dad, who's whole mission in life was to aggravate Kai leaves him be down here. She wonders if it's an attempt to keep him happy since he does pay all the bills around here. Have been since Youtube and Twitch started monetizing his content.

"Evil dead and The Evil dead" she corrects him because for him to be such a horror movie buff and to have missed that slight difference amazes her. She knows she's being insufferable, but if the roles were reversed he would totally not let her get away with the slip up.

"That's what I said" he blinks owlishly at her.

"You so did not. God, this is so satisfying" she lets out grinning. She'd been slouching on the couch but for this occasion she sits up straight, holding his gaze, "Kai," she starts again, speaking to him in that patronizing tone he uses on her whenever she gets some dumb movie trivia fact wrong and he's so called educating her on her fuck up. "-the 1983 version is called The Evil Dead the 2013 version is just Evil Dead. How do you not know this?"

She watches as pure amusement spreads over his face, brightening his eyes, curling his pretty lips, "Are you educating me right now on horror films? Is that what's happening?"

"Well, you're the one who apparently doesn't know the title difference between the original and the remake"

"I do." he denies, a grin still firmly planted on his annoyingly handsome face. "That was merely a test to see if you did. And lookey you passed with flying colors" he says, beaming proudly at her.

"Oh, that's such bullshit" she scoffs, teed. "You just can't admit when you're wrong, can you?"

"Language, buttercup." he reprimands in a sing-songy tone. "You wouldn't want the kiddos first words to be of the vulgar variety, do you?"

"They're already talking." she bites out, leveling him with an annoyed look. "And don't try to change the subject. The proclaimed King of horror screwed up on something as simple as a movie title. It's embarrassing. I'm embarrassed for you"

And like that, all the amusement that was broadcasted over his face was now completely scrubbed away. "No you should be embarrassed by the fact that you read bully orgy porn to get off. That is what you should be embarrassed about"

"Stop saying that. It's not porn!" she can't control her volume when she voices this, so it pretty much comes out as a shriek.

His brows turn down into a frown, his words way less teasing than they were before. "Do you want my parents to come down and investigate why the word porn is being thrown around so casually?"

"Please" she scoffs, eyes rolling upwards. "You could be watching it in the living room jerking off for everyone to see and they wouldn't say shit. Hell, your dad would actually sit down, crack open a beer and join you"

There's a long silence that precedes his words. And she knows why. That was a low blow. Kai had the shittiest parents in the world. Everyone knew it and everyone definitely took every opportunity to remind him of it. Except for her..until now that is.

The guilt has her slightly wincing at the callous words strewn about so casually.

She peers at him, noting how his glare is filled with frost, she wants so badly to look away but she avoids the cowardice move and keeps her eyes trained on him. "Because my parents are such low lives and don't care about me, right?" Comes the just as chilly words.

She shakes her head, feeling an extreme amount of guilt for bringing up such a sore topic for him. She gets up, eyes affixed to his face, watching his features turn thorny. An indication that she needs to handle him carefully. Her hands goes up to–hell, she doesn't know what she was getting ready to do but when he takes a step back she seizes in her actions, saying quite remorsefully, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that"

And with a blink, the shutters come down.

"No, it's okay." He assures, his tone too impassive to be anything good. He holds up both movies, locking placid eyes with her. "Which one? Evil dead or The Evil dead?"

And when she just stares, unspeaking.

Waggling the DVD's impatiently, he demands of her but not really because his tone couldn't be more dead. "Pick one"

She points to the 80's classic.

"The Evil dead it is"

And after the most uncomfortable movie night ever. Seriously, his cold demeanor through the viewing had caused a legit chilliness over the room. No matter how much she tried with casual conversation, mostly making fun of the characters in the movie and the dumb shit they did, she hadn't been able to thaw out the ice cold atmosphere. So amid credit roll, Bonnie turns to Kai, guilt weighing heavily in her gut. She places a comforting hand on his forearm, relieved when he doesn't snatch it away.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to imply that your parents didn't care about you" she injects sincerity in her tone.

"But you did." He states, with a punctuated blink of the eyes, the words dragged out acidically. "You said what everyone else in this podunk town thinks. That my family's a dysfunctional shit show. But thank you so much for reminding me what trash we are" he ends his rant with a bitter smile.

Fuck. She really fucked up. Why couldn't she just let him be wrong in peace? But no, she just had to be petty, rubbing it in his face that he finally got something wrong and when he responded like typical Kai does, in that smart alecky way of his, she went low, really low. Shamefully low. "I don't think that" the words are fought to be heard in the spacious basement.

"It came out of your mouth" he contradicts, his stare unflinching.

"I said what I said because.." she pauses, shaking her head, shame enveloping her again. "Well, because you kept teasing me and I knew it would shut you up."

He's nodding his head, the action slow, like he's processing her words. But his expression never changes and because of this she knows that he's unmoved by her words. "Well, you really need to learn to cope with your anger better"

"Says the boy who uses his fist to deal with his" is spit out so fast she hadn't the chance to filter her words because if she had the comment wouldn't have come out at all. It was such the wrong thing to say. She should be concentrating on apologizing not bringing to light more of his flaws.

"Except, I gear my anger towards the ops not my so called best friend" So called best friend. Oh. Wow.

And before she could comment. "I'm going to head up and shower but you can take my bed, I'll sleep down here"

"Kai" she starts but he gets up, starts making his way towards the stairs. With his back to her, he bids, a bite to his voice, "See you in the morning, cheerleader"

---

She doesn't see him in the morning. She leaves before he gets up, having called an uber to pick her up, running into Jo on her way out, Kai's twin and Jenna Sommers, the brunette's gossipy best friend as she's exiting. They're in the living room having girl chat. That was putting it nicely, they were in the livingroom gossiping about last night's events like chickens. She's pretty sure she heard her name fall from Jenna's mouth. She's not used to this, being involved in drama. And if she knew anything about her schoolmates, the news about the fight would be all anyone can talk about come Monday morning.

"Oh hey, Bonnie!" Jo greets with more enthusiasm than was necessary, a clear overcompensation for being caught gossiping about her. "I didn't know you spent the night"

Bonnie nearly sighs thinking about the rough night she had. Not just the Caroline thing, but her fight with Kai. She didn't get a wink of sleep, thinking about her best friend and that look on his face after she said what she said. She could tell he was gutted. She hates she was the cause of this look.

"Yeah, Kai and I had a movie night" she says instead, forcing a smile. She's not about to admit in front of this gossipy hen that she and Kai fought for most of the night. Jenna would find absolutely anything to gossip about, even something as insignificant as her and Kai butting heads.

"Oh cool." Jo responds, as if they hadn't been doing this for the past ten years now. "What did you guys watch?" Bonnie has to give her credit too, she actually sounds genuinely interested in knowing.

"The Evil Dead."

"Is that the one with the zombies?" Jenna cuts in, looking mildly nauseated.

"That's the one" Bonnie confirms, feeling slightly judged by her taste in flicks.

The strawberry blonde scrunches up her nose even further. "Ugh, gross. I don't know how you guys watch that stuff"

"Apparently I have a stomach of steel" she relays to Jenna, done with the conversation. Plus, she had a sinking suspicion they were only working up the courage to ask her about Caroline and the role she played in last night's events. So without pause, she locks eyes with Jo, tells the other girl, "Tell your brother to call me when he wakes up"

"Yeah, sure" the raven haired girl nods, a closed mouth smile appearing on her pretty face. The brunettes' friend however looks hella disappointed at Bonnie not staying longer to "chat" confirming Bonnie suspicions about the other girl's intent to fish for gossip.

"Bye guys" she bids, getting out of there before Jenna decides she is done playing it subtle and flat out asks for dirt. She tosses a final wave, before making her way out.

---

He doesn't call her. So she calls him. Twice. He sends both calls to voicemail.

She doesn't see him until lunch at school that Monday. Her plan is to pull him aside to properly apologize. Except, he doesn't show up at their table alone. That brunette from the party is with him.

"You're party girl" Jeremy says by way of greeting the newcomer as they take a seat at the table. The dark haired girl on his left, sitting way too close for two people who'd just met each other. Bonnie tries to make eye contact with Kai but he avoids her gaze. She knows he feels her eyes on him. Inwardly sighing, she flicks her gaze away, trying not to appear hurt as her irises lands on the brunette, Anna–Bonnie recalls Caroline telling her the brunette's name at the party before all the drama popped off. When the blonde was still pretending to be her friend and not a backstabbing bitch.

Caroline hadn't come to school today. Chattr, the gossip app that reports on the lives of the popular kids at Mystic Falls High, ran by some anonymous troll (Kai seems to think It's Jenna–Josie's best friend. Bonnie's not so sure though. She'd seen the other girl gush over Caroline too many times, almost like she admired her, until recently that is..she wondered what changed. The point is though, whoever ran the site has an extreme dislike for the ex cheerleader since the app's inception.)had a field day with the fact, speculating the reason she hadn't shown up today was because she had gotten her ass handed to her by Vicky Donavan. Bonnie would probably never show her face at school if she had gotten her ass kicked that bad.

"Or you can call me Anna" The brunette suggests, helpfully.

"Right, sorry. Kai's rudeness rubs off sometimes." The mention of Kai has Bonnie eyes falling on her best friend again, the blue haired teen simply offers Jeremy a flip of the bird but the other boy finishes undeterred. "Jeremy" the brunet reaches a hand out, actually shaking the newcomer's hand, demonstrating manners for the first time ever. Bonnie's mouth must have hit the table. Who was this guy? Bonnie remembers her first time meeting Jeremy, she recalls he'd given her a weird look after taking in her hoodie and knee length cargos, like he was unused to girls wearing anything but dresses and skirts before muttering a spiritless sup? But maybe he's changed in the six years she's known him. After giving it a good shake, he retracts his limb, nodding off to Nora and then to Bonnie on the opposite side of the table. "And this is Nora and Bonnie"

"Hello" Anna gives a half wave, a shy smile enveloping her lips, which was sans lip gloss or any type of color. Which was unheard of around here where all the girls' faces were beat to the Gods. Even Nora's downturned lips were sporting her signature shade of onyx. Bonnie was Anna just months back, rocking the natural bare face thing, having seemingly been the last girl to discover make up. Now she was just like everyone else.

"So you're new here?" Nora states the obvious, looking none too impressed while at it. But what was new? Beyonce and Taylor Swift could come stroll over to their table, take a seat and strike up a conversation and Nora would eye them with unflinching derision.

"Yep"

And to prove she's not jealous, that she can actually have a conversation with one of Kai's little girlfriends she inquires, throwing on an artificial smile, false cheer in her voice, "So, how are you liking it so far?"

"It's okay, I guess." Another shy smile. "I don't plan on truly writing it off until I've been here at least a month." she jokes and then in a more somber note. "But by then, I'll probably be off to the next town."

"Oh, do you move around alot?" Bonnie asks, a small crevice appearing between her brows.

"Yeah. My mom, she can never settle in one place for too long." Bonnie can't help but pick up on the sadness in her tone. "I've lived in three different places in just the past two years alone"

"Please don't tell me this is a Ginny and Georgia situation because I think I might barf" Nora comments in her trademark caustic tone.

"Ignore her," Kai tells the newest addition to Mystic Falls High. "She hasn't taken her Prozac for today"

Nora flips him off while Kai pretends to not see the gesture.

"That must suck to bounce around from place to place" Jeremy says what everyone else was thinking.

God, she couldn't imagine moving from town to town, never settling any roots. To be honest, her mom sounds hella selfish for subjecting her to this.

"It is." comes the weary sigh. "It definitely gets lonely" An uncomfortable silence succeeds her words. No one says anything for a long moment. The thing was, they tried to keep things surface at lunch because the rest of their day was typically shit, discussing things like loneliness just wasn't done. It's a moment before anyone speaks. And of course it was her, her friends weren't exactly conversation starters.

"Well, hopefully this will be the one that sticks" Bonnie chirps, trying to lift the other girl's spirits.

A smile blooms across the other girl's face, "I'm optimistic" Anna replies before landing her hopeful eyes on Kai.

---

"I have to give you some credit, no one would have ever known you were jealous back there." Nora voices as they head to their locker before fifth. Lunch had just ended. Instead of Kai walking with them to their lockers like he normally would, he headed off with Anna to hers. So now he was storing his books in her locker? This girl he just met? Bonnie doesn't know why this fact hurts her so much. "Top notch acting skills Bennett, maybe you should try out for the school play" Nora finishes her teasing.

Bonnie doesn't even bother with the 'I don't know what youre talking about' act, asking the raven haired girl, "Is he dating her?"

"He didn't say anything to me" she shrugs casually, and then glances at Bonnie as she bogards her way down the hall. People are actually clearing out of the way for her.

Bonnie's impressed.

"And wait, why are you asking me? Don't you two talk about everything? You are still besties, right? At least that's what you two are always telling everyone all the time. Which personally, I think is a total crock of shit but that's just me"

"Hey, Bonnie" A sophmore girl Bonnie recognizes from the dance team greets her cheerily as she passes her up in the hall.

"Hi" Bonnie greets a little too late, the girl already having melted into the crowd. Her delayed response had to do with the numerous people acknowledging her today, not just guys like before but girls who've never uttered a word to her before are now speaking to her. It was weird.

Bonnie gets back to her convo with the forever disgruntled teen beside her, ignoring the part about her and Kai being more than friends, "He's pissed with me. You didn't notice the whole pretending like I didn't exist thing he was doing at lunch just now? He wouldn't even look at me, Nor"

"Uh oh. He's never mad at you. What did you do?" the other girl spits at her accusingly, her suspicious eyes roving over Bonnie's face in a way that made the shorter girl feel persecuted.

The ex-cheerleader sighs. "I mentioned his home life. I may have implied his parents didn't give a shit about him, which is true but I shouldn't have said it"

Nora's lips pull back slightly in a wince. "Dude, you fucked up." she relays bluntly. "Royally. Everyone knows his home life is off limits. The last person to do that got a black eye in return"

This is true. Lucky for her Kai doesn't hit girls.

I know" she groans, disappointed with herself for stooping so low. "It's just he was teasing me and I wanted to shut him up"

Which was a pathetic excuse, she should have said something else, something that didn't imply his parents were scum.

"Teasing you? About what?" Of course this is what Nora zeroes in on.

She answers vaguely, she wasn't about to admit to reading bully porn and Kai teasing her about it. "It doesn't matter. But you know how he gets sometimes. Relentless with the badgering. I'd had enough"

"Clearly" Nora mutters as they reach their lockers, the smart mouth goth's just two down from hers. But she doesn't head to hers right away. She parks herself right beside Bonnie, lounging on someone else's locker, clearly needing the full story, not caring how rude she's being.

"Don't make me feel worse than I already do" Bonnie tells her. She shifts her eyes away from her classmate, starting to put in her combination.

But before the other girl could reply, a group of girls bum rushes her. Scattering around her, creating a barricade between her and her friend.

The leader of their little crew, a redhead with glittering green eyes and a splatter of freckles on her nose and cheeks speaks up, her voice filled with complete admiration, "We just wanted to tell you that you rock. We saw what you did at Tyler's party on Friday. Kicking Caroline off her own team. Total badass. God, I wished I'd been there to witness it" she ends her prattling on a near squeal.

Wait, saw? So there was a video going around? How hasn't she heard about this until now?

Because her friends weren't gossip starved..She could seriously go months without looking at Chattr. Kai didn't even have the app downloaded on his phone. But apparently that wasn't the case for the rest of her classmates. No wonder she was on everyone's radar today. And now that she thinks about it, the parting of the crowd like the red sea just moments ago as she and Nora made their way down the hall, was most likely because of her and not the steely eyed teen.

"Oh, that was nothing really" Bonnie alleges, retreating back to her old timid ways but also not liking how everyone was praising her for taking down another girl, even if said girl was someone as awful as Caroline.

"Are you serious?" one of the redhead friends, a mousy brunette pipes up in clear disagreement, "You took down Goliath. You're a freaking legend"

Bonnie wanted to say technically Vicky defeated Goliath but she got their point, they weren't speaking in literal terms. Instead, she comes up with, "Well, she's a bitch.." As in she obviously deserved it.

"Fuck yeah she is. And now she's nothing. All because of you" the red head is saying, voice bright with adoration. Bonnie isn't sure the girl wouldn't build an altar right now if she could.

"Okay, that's enough fangirls. Scat" Nora buts in rudely, shooing the girls off. They scatter like mice, clearly not wanting to face her wrath. Nora really could intimidate with the best of them. Despite how rude the petite girl had been, Bonnie's secretly relieved she sent them on their way. She doesn't like all this extra attention. Hopefully after today, things will go back to normal.

"So you have a fan club now. That's new" She sounds like Kai with the whole fan club talk. Which makes her wonder if they discussed this so-called fan club when she wasn't around.

Bonnie eyes the girl with cold scrutiny, "Shut up"

Nora doesn't of course but the next words out of her mouth has nothing to do with her so called fan club and everything to do with the Kai situation. "Apologize. That type of shit goes a long way I hear"

Bonnie turns towards her locker, putting in her combination again after having spotted the English textbook and binder in the crook of her friend's arm. Because clearly while the girls were gushing over Bonnie, Nora must have been doing something productive with her time like gathering her books.

"I already did" Bonnie nearly whines because he hadn't fucking cared. He looked at her like she might as well have been Damon. She doesn't know what it will take to gain his forgiveness. But she needs to figure it out soon because she doesn't think she can go another day without her friend talking to her.

"Well, then give him time." the edgier girl tells her. "He'll come around eventually. Besides, it's you."

This gets her to look at the other girl. "What does that mean?"

She searches her friend's face for answers but all that peers back at her is a blank mask. Out of her and Kai she's not sure who has the best poker face. The other girl finally speaks, "All those brains and yet so clueless" she tsks in a pitious way before finally making her way around Bonnie and into the congested hall, leaving Bonnie standing there gaping after her.

---

It's been a week since he's talked to Bonnie. It's excessive, he knows. They've never gone this long without speaking. Three days tops. But also she's never pissed him off like this before. Honestly, he can't remember when she's ever truly pissed him off at all. Not even that shit in middle school when she actually debated on going to Summer camp with the insufferables and was trying to drag him along had made him so mad. To actually say his parents would allow him to watch porn in front of his siblings, little fucking kids–not only that, would join him. Like wow. She must really think low of them. He knows his dad was trash but damn there was a difference between trash and deplorable.

She was no better than everyone else who shitted on his family. God knows he shouldn't be taking up for his alcoholic father but Jesus the man did have his limits. He's never talked ill of her family, ever. Despite the fact that her dad was an uppity as shit stick up the ass. Bonnie didn't see it though, how he looked down on Kai and his family, how he apparently didn't think he was good enough to date his daughter, if going by the little chat they had a few weeks back. Kai played it cool when he brought it up to Bonnie, but the whole conversation had left him feeling like no matter how much his circumstances changed–no, he wasn't rich yet, but he would be one day. They were out of the trailer park, off food stamps, his parents no longer had to clean up after rich assholes, they didn't have to work ever if they didn't want to. He made enough to supplement both of their incomes. They didn't live on the ritzy side of town, where the Salvatore's or Lockwoods did, where every house was damn near a mansion. But they weren't in the slums either. They lived in a not great but decent area, in a modest one story home. And honestly, it was enough for Kai. For now at least, until he was out on his own and made enough money to where he could buy whatever gigantic house he wanted because he would get that one day. But apparently to Bonnie's father, to her, he was still the poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks.

"Do you wanna go to Homecoming together?" the question rips him out of his miserable thoughts and back to his basement. He turns to the person who the words had flowed from.

Nearly black as midnight eyes stare back at him, curious. He'd invited Anna over to hang, and since she wasn't a gamer they were watching a fantasy series on Netflix. Or at least she was, he had tuned out thirty minutes ago, not because the show was shit, the premise was actually sort of brilliant, it was the horrible acting that overshadowed any redeeming qualities the show may have had, "What?" he asks even though he's heard her perfectly fine. But he wants to know for sure that she asked him what he thought she did.

"The dance." she responds, suddenly sounding nervous, "You haven't asked anyone else, right?

See that right there shows just how much she doesn't know him. Because if she did, that question would have never left her mouth.

Kai didn't do school sanctioned dances. And he sure as hell didn't do ones that rewarded the popular kids for doing nothing more than being fucking popular. Which speaking of, Bonnie was fucking included in that lot now. She was in the running for Homecoming Queen. Apparently her part in dethroning Caroline(there was actually a video recording of Bonnie calling Caroline a cunt in a loop going around school)had been the catalyst that sent her popularity soaring. Kai wasn't sure how he felt about it. On one hand, she should be celebrated for taking down that rank bitch. On the other hand, he doesn't want to share her with anyone. Not that they've even been in each other's orbit recently. Kai's been keeping his distance and Bonnie's been hanging out with her ex bestie turned new bestie again, Elena fucking Gilbert. He swears if he ever got the chance, he'd push her off a cliff. Not because he was jealous of she and Bonnie's rekindled friendship but because she was a shitty fucking person. So incredibly into herself like no one in the world matters but her. It's almost astonishing how selfish she is. But Bonnie doesn't let anything bad be said about the other girl, so he's learned to keep his comments to himself.

"That would require me to have wanted to go to begin with. Why don't you ask Jeremy. I'm pretty sure he hasn't asked anyone yet"

He noticed Jeremy looking at Anna in ways he didn't even look at Anna. Not that Anna was his girl, she wasn't, more of a friend with benefits. Yes, they've hooked up a few times, not full on sex or anything, just tame shit like making out ect. Whatever. He took what she was offering because he liked her but mostly because it took his mind off Bonnie. As much as it could anyway, he still thought about her obsessively so. The number of times he wanted to say fuck it with being mad at her was embarrassing. But then he had to remind himself what she said, what the words had implied and he was off that idea for a while at least. Until he saw her in the hall or lunch and feelings started to stir again.

When her words finally come, she sounds insulted, "You want me to ask your best friend? To Homecoming.."

Technically, Jeremy's not his best friend. But he can see why she would think this. He hasn't so much as spoken a word to Bonnie since that night she brought up his shitty parents. What else was she to think?

"Yeah. I mean, sure. Why not? It's just a stupid dance"

Her widened eyes prompts him to say, "What?" the vowel lengthened. He shifts in his seat, not liking the way her eyes were drilling holes into him.

"I'm not going to ask your best friend to Homecoming." there goes that disgusted tone again. And then letting out a laborious sigh, she adds, "It's cool. I'll just go alone" But she's pouting.

Kai has toddlers for siblings and he doesn't think even they've looked so miserable before. "Is this you trying to guilt trip me?" he asks her, garnering her attention. She looks shocked by him saying this. She must not be used to blunt people. He can't help it; he's never been the type to bite his tongue, even with Bonnie who was the last person he ever wanted to hurt. "Because Anna let me tell you right now that type of stuff doesn't work on me"

"No?" She seems to take it as a challenge, moving in to kiss him at the spot just beneath his jaw.

"Not in the least" he responds but then she starts to nibble there and well he swallows. She discovered some days back that this was his spot. Which he hates. Now she clearly thought she could use that knowledge to control him.

"Okay, we'll see.." she says, sounding way too confident as she straddles his lap.

---

Kai's in Lynchburg, having just attended a gamers convention, he and Anna, picking up their to-go order at his favorite local spot when he sees it. Abby, Bonnie's mom, nestled up in a quiet corner with a man who is not her father.

He damn near does a double take, unable to believe his eyes, what they were witnessing.. a laughing Abby Bennett, all coy and flirty, her lean flirtatious fingers stretched out across the table, softly stroking the back of the man's hand. A man he's just now realizing he knows, now that he's finally gotten over the shock and has studied his face properly. Klaus Mikealson, an arrogant British prick who moved to Mystic Falls a few years back with his entire insufferable family. They tried to make a home for themselves here but after realizing Mystic Falls was as exciting as watching paint dry they fled. Most of the lot that is, Klaus was the only one to stick around. He'd settled roots here and for the most part he's kept to himself. His sole focus on building his empire in their small little town, never having really ruffled any feathers other than a verbal sparring match he had out with the Mayor after being denied for a zoning permit when he first moved to town. That situation was quickly resolved though, Kai had his suspicions a very hefty bribe was the cause for this. It wasn't like Mayor Lockwood wasn't known for his dirty politicking.

Klaus Mikealson was a man of few words because everything he needed to say to you could be said with a look. He emoted like nobody's business, and the emotion now that was reflecting on his usual scowling face was smitten.

Kai sits on the info for a whole day, debating on what to do. He knows he should tell Bonnie, it's what he would want her to do if the situation was reversed. If his dad was cheating on his mom he'd would want to know plain and simple, so he text her for the first time in weeks,

We need to talk

Her text comes almost right away.

Ya, sure. Call me whenever..

He could call her, hell, even text her but he doesn't want that. She, as his best friend, deserved a face to face conversation. Yes, he still considers her this although things were weird between them, so he responds with,

No, in person. Meet me at the falls.

---

When Bonnie arrives at the town's namesake she's shocked to see she's made it there first. For some reason she thought he was already here when he texted her. Kai practically lived at the falls. It was his safe haven. She remembers when they were kids, how she'd invited Caroline here to swim with them before her mind was made up about Summer camp. In turn, the blonde had shown up with Damon and Matt. Kai had been livid. Said she ruined something that was theirs. But he'd forgiven her. She's guessing he was inviting her back here to repeat history. Because she did fuck up, she knows it but Kai didn't get to ignore her, push her aside for some new girl. No, that wasn't the way they operated. They were Bonnie and Kai. They sorted out their shit. Besties for life. Bonnie makes her way to the towns namesake, sits at the edge of the cliff, eyes trained on the ever flowing water, revelling at how perfectly it cascades down. It truly was beautiful. She understood why Kai loved this place so much.

And think of the devil, she hears the sound of boots crunching against earth. She knows its boots because she's heard the sound a million times now. She turns immediately, sees him approaching, which prompts her to stand up. He's in his signature black, no rock stars printed on his shirt, just a plain black tee and jeans. Well fitted. She nearly sighs at how good he looks. It's not surprising though, Kai always looks good. He's not like the other boys at schools with their perfectly styled hair and polo shirts and bulges on bulges of muscles. He's lean, not slight, like he'd been a few years back. No, just enough muscles to cause her mouth to water with thirst. He probably doesn't even know what a polo is. His hair was almost always messy, the color–ever changing, to be honest she's not even sure what shade of brown his hair naturally is. She's lying. He's a mahogany brown, nearly black. She hasn't seen it in so long though. she misses it. Misses him. Her eyes flick down to his feet, and she was right, no converse today, he's rocking black combat boots. He looks like a delinquent. With all his tattoos and all black attire and piercings which he's collected more of since they've stopped talking. One on the underside of his top lip that's only really visible when he smiles, which means she rarely sees it, except when he's talking to Anna(Bonnie nearly barfs at the thought)and a silver hoop that hugs the right corner of his bottom lip that highlights just how plump and perfect it is. And then there's that permanent scowl-because yes, he's scowling even now. This gets her heart to sinking. Was he not happy to see her? Was this summoning not about making amends? She's starting to get nervous now.

She finally speaks up, allowing her inquisitive eyes to narrow on his empty blues. "So you're talking to me now"

She can't help but bring up his pettiness.

"Yeah, I guess" he responds flippantly, his shrug beyond apathetic. His eyes instead of being on her, track the woods surrounding them. It's clear he doesn't want to be here. It hurts. And here she thought they would leave here besties again.

She doesn't get it, if he didn't bring her out here to make up..why was she here then?

"Don't sound so enthused" she comments, sarcasm heavy in her tone. He finally looks at her and she demands from him, not allowing herself to getting sucked into his beautiful face because seriously fuck that shit, voice brusk, she demands, "Why am I here, Kai?"

And when he doesn't get straight to why he's dragged her here, the middle of the freaking woods..she starts to get worried because Kai is never one to get nervous about anything.

"What?" she demands, studying his facial features and picking out the emotion right away, queasiness. He looks nauseous. Legit sick. Like he's ate some bad sushi and is about to chuck it up. But really, like it kills him to have to say whatever he's about to say. Her guard immediately goes up.

He swallows then takes a bracing breath, his voice hesitant and low when he speaks, "I don't know how to say this.."

"Say what?" she's starting to get antsy now, her eyes flickering over his torn face at about a million miles a minute, noting the crowding of his brows, the clear distress bracketing his mouth, the trepidation edging his eyes. What is he so afraid of her knowing? "Kai, spit it out" she says almost curtly.

And then he does in a blunt rush of words, he spits it out plain for her, "Your moms cheating on your dad"

For a second her thoughts stall out. It takes a good minute for her to comprehend what he's just said. And because it makes zero sense at all to her, she flings out, disbelieving, almost in a humorous lilt, "What?"

He sighs, running a restless hand through his dark locks. And when he speaks it's almost as though he loathes to do so, no, she knows he does, "This past weekend, I was in Lynchburg for a convention and on my way out of town I stopped at Mannino's to pick up an order and I saw her there with Klaus Mikaelson."

"Kaus Mikaelson?" she parrots, her voice not her own, unnaturally high in pitch. She can't help it though..what the world was he talking about? She works at lowering her tone as she gets out her next question, "The florist guy?" But the descriptor felt inept because not only had he owned a florist shop, he owned a shit load of other businesses around town. Between Guisseppe Salvatore and the Mayor they pretty much owned the town.

He affirms with a slow nod, his expression finally starting to cool. He looks less stricken, more like himself. But there's still a minuscule edge to his features.

"No, that can't be right." she responds, her words slow, tone seeped in doubt, her head moving from side to side in utter denial. "My mom would never do that to my dad. She loves him. He loves her. They're like sickeningly in love. You're mistaken" she tells him with confidence.

And the way he looks at her, like he feels sorry for her. "Bonnie, I don't think I am"

"You don't think you are." She lets out a laugh. It's beyond delirious. "So there's a chance then that you're wrong about this.." she waits for him to confirm that there is. But he doesn't.

"I'm not." she doesn't hear a hint of uncertainty in his tone. And that worries her. For only a hot second though. Because she reminds herself, this was crazy. He was crazy.

And then she remembers, "But a minute ago you said-"

"Bonnie," he interrupts her, tone firm, eyes unblinking. "I know what I saw"

She finds her head toggling again and then her expression folding into a frown, her lips a hard line of doubt before she opens them to say, to get him to see reason, "Yeah, no, they must've been discussing business or something. There's gotta be a logical explanation for why they were together"

And there goes that piteous look again. "I know what I saw" he repeats, enunciating each word with extremely slow precision.

"And what exactly did you see, huh?" She says, her lashes fluttering rapidly, her voice growing vicious. "Were they hugging? Kissing? Fucking? What?"

He's quiet then. And she takes this opportunity to plow on, relentless. "Did you at least get a photo, Kai? Some type of irrefutable evidence that actually proves my mom has been cheating on my dad, her husband of nearly twenty years?" she hears the volume of her voice climbing, each word spewed, snippier.

"I didn't think I needed to." he admits to her, finally starting to sound like himself again, not bothering to be gentle with her anymore, "I assumed when I told my best friend of a decade that her mom was stepping out on her father, she'd believe me"

He's insulted. Well, boo hoo.

She smiles snidely. "Of course you did because I'm supposed to hang on to your every word, right? Never question anything you ever say because Kai is always right."

He nods, gestures with his hands for her to bring on the insults. "Come on. Give it to me." he says, his expression mechanical. "Yell at me. Curse at me. Slap me. Whatever. I'll be your punching bag."

"Whatever" She mutters, ripping her eyes from him, settling them on a hemlock tree just to the right of him. And then she starts laughing because of course he was here telling her this.

Figuring it out, she finally looks at him. "I bet you're enjoying this. I bet you couldn't wait to tell me what you thought you knew because then you wouldn't be the only one in this friendship with a fucked up family"

To his credit, he doesn't get upset. Kai has a legendary temper, so him being this calm is a rare sighting. "I knew you were gonna do this." His voice is even, no sign of rage whatsoever. His expression is actually eerily calm. "I knew you were going to turn me into the bad guy. But I came to you anyway despite knowing this. And do you know why?" he doesn't actually expect her to answer so she doesn't. "Because I care about you, Bonnie. Otherwise, I wouldn't have told you shit. I would have continued to let your mom fuck that Mikaelson dude in peace while you and your dad sat by oblivious."

Her nostrils flare, anger starting to rise. She feels it gathering inside of her like a tornado. The nerve of him, pretending like he gave a shit. Like he was so altruistic. "You care about me? Really?" a shock of laughter peals out of her quivering lips. "That's hilarious." she says more to herself than to him. Then her head jerks up, dark eyes accusing, spiteful with its glare, "If you cared so much, where have you been these past few weeks? I say one fucked up thing and you toss me away like yesterday's trash. Like I never meant anything to you. And then you replace me with this Anna girl?" she spits out, letting rage consume her. She can feel the emotion spreading like a savage poison through her veins. She's so fucking mad, she's damn near trembling.

She hates how angry she sounds, how hurt coats every surface of her words. But she can't help it, can't hide her feelings about this. He hurt her when he left her on read, stopped coming by her locker, pretended like she didn't exist at lunch while he showered Anna with attention.

"I didn't replace you with Anna, Bonnie." is all he has to say about it. And it makes her even madder, how flippant he's being.

"Oh, right. Because she's your girlfriend." she makes the correction. Acknowledging the very clear distinction here. To him they weren't the same. In two totally different categories. Bonnie, he wanted to hang out with. Anna, he wanted to bang. "My bad." she says and she hopes the hurt doesn't bleed through.

"So what if she is." He questions, finally some emotion lacing his tone. His face is covered with it. But other than anger she can't pick out what other emotion is blurring with the former. "What's it to you, hm?" he blinks at her pointedly, his jaw tight with tension.

Her mouth falls open at the question but she doesn't speak. Cant. Her heart is lodged in her throat but even if the blockage wasn't there, the truth wasn't an option. She doesn't know how long they stand there in the desolate woods, in silence, staring at each other before her mouth finally starts to moving and she tells the biggest lie she's ever told, "Absolutely nothing"

She knows she's a horrible liar and sure it extended out to her expression as well but by some miracle he must believe her because he doesn't challenge her on it, with a clipped nod he bids, "Okay. I guess there's nothing left to say then"

She doesn't respond, just watches him walk away.

---

A/N So this is a two parter, I'm hoping to get the final part out by the end of the month. But the way my job is set up iono, we gon keep our fingers crossed. Now onto the fic.. So what do you guys think? Too much pining? I cant tell if its overkill. Also, is Bonnie like the sweetest thing or no? Kai is Kai of course.. And what about Elena? Do we want the besties back together? What do we feel about that whole Caroline sitch? Lmk in the comments. Until next time xoxo