ADDICTED TO LOVE
Disclaimer: I do not own TVD.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE DINNER FROM HELL
THE door creaked open and Bonnie let out an audibly loud sigh of relief. In all her adorably blonde glory, stood Caroline. All wide eyed and bushy tailed, like always. Bonnie couldn't have been happier for it to be Caroline on the other side of that door.
Now, the night has officially started.
Bonnie, with her wine glass still in hand, pulled Caroline into a tight hug. She moaned out lovingly as she held on to her confused friend. "Someone's happy to see me, huh?" Bonnie laughed obnoxiously.
"She's drunk," Vicki replied, snarkily in passing. Caroline pulled Bonnie back with concern and confusion as she examined her. Bonnie smiled wide and rolled her eyes, almost in defense of herself.
Bonnie finally let go of Caroline and sighed dramatically. "Shh, don't tell my mom." She begged, then laughed out loud again. "She's a party pooper." Bonnie spoke, pointing to Vicki.
Caroline snickered and turned. As she shut the front door, Bonnie quickly drank the rest of her wine. "She seems nice." Caroline remarked, sarcastically.
"Please! She makes you look like a saint!" Bonnie shot back, a tinge of sarcasm to her voice. Bonnie then giggled and handed Caroline her empty wine glass.
Caroline took offense, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Caroline's here!" Bonnie announced, ignoring her friend and dragging the 5 foot 8 woman into the dinning room with her. The large table was set and sat at it was Abby at one end and Leo at the other. Damon sat next to Abby and across from him was Vicki. "For whatever reason, like everybody else…" Bonnie then muttered, letting go of Caroline again. Bonnie pulled out a chair and plopped down in it. Caroline took off her jacket, hung it on the chair and sat beside her.
Immediately Bonnie reached for a wine glass that was not hers and the bottle. Caroline placed Bonnie's glass down and quickly took the other glass and wine from Bonnie. Sliding the two away from her tipsy friend, Bonnie huffed and sat back like a toddler denied dessert before dinner.
Abby watched the scene unfold in front of her and ignored it. Bonnie had been acting like a child all day. Abby would know. After she and Bonnie had that spat at the office, Abby had been hovering like a helicopter over Bonnie. Bonnie quickly caught on and had been acting defiantly on purpose.
The night was just getting started, and Bonnie was determined to make it unforgettable—whether Abby approved or not.
Abby cleared her throat, which drew everybody's attention and started to talk. Bonnie sat back, blowing raspberries with her mouth. Her attention however was not on Abby. The table grew even more silent. Bonnie looked up, finally reading the room. "Sorry," she apologized, and stopped her immaturities.
Abby continued and her words still went unheard by her daughter. Unbeknownst to Bonnie, a woman approached with a pitcher of water. Bonnie flinched in surprise as she watched the lady pour her water.
Her mind raced— had her mother really hired a chef? How didn't she notice?
"But I want to thank you guys for this family dinner, I know it's last minute," Abby chuckled. Bonnie snapped back to Abby's speech. Family dinner? Huh?
"Then why is he here?" She asked, her finger pointed accusingly at Damon.
Abby rolled her eyes. "The same reason Vicki is here." She added.
"I invited her," Bonnie snapped back.
"And I invited Damon."
The two glared at each other, unapologetically. Bonnie continued. "Then if it's a family dinner, why isn't Sarah here? Or Michael?" She asked, this time looking at Leo.
Leo looked at Bonnie sternly. "Sarah was busy." he answered curtly.
"Could have fooled me, Sarah's never busy." Bonnie was quick to say under her breath.
Abby took another deep breath and sighed. Her eyes looked at the other guests rather than at her childish daughter. "Just thank you for coming, that's all." She finished, defeated. She raised her glass and everybody except Bonnie joined in a toast.
Bonnie sat back and played with the rim of her glass. "I'd like to make a toast too," she declared. Despite Caroline's attempt to stop her, Bonnie brushed her off and stood. "To Sarah and Mickey, who despite being family, couldn't be here tonight." She stood proud with a smile, egging on a raise in glasses from everybody at the table.
Abby was skeptical but raised her glass in the toast like everybody else. Unfortunately, Bonnie wasn't finished. "And to Henry. Who only remains in memories and on my favorite sweater that is still stained with his blood."
"Jesus Christ," Leo cursed under his breath.
A glass dropped by the chef shattered in the background, adding the perfect effect to the dinner from absolute hell. Abby groaned loudly and slammed her hand down. "Please, Bonnie. I don't think you've had enough to drink!" She hurled at her daughter, frustration obviously taking over.
"And I think you need therapy!" Bonnie bit back, shooting daggers at her mother.
"That's enough!" Leo shouted, causing the insane commotion to cease. It was so quiet, you could almost hear a pin drop. Abby huffed, angirly and darted from the table. Leo followed suit after her.
Bonnie rolled her eyes and scoffed. She walked around the table and disappeared into the kitchen. She stormed to the sliding glass doors and outside, closing them behind her as she left the scene of her crime.
Everybody at the table was completely beside themselves. Vicki exhaled and brought the bottle of wine closer to her. She poured herself a glass and raised it. "To the dinner from hell," Vicki declared dryly.
Caroline took the bottle and filled her glass, "I'll drink to that." The two clinked glasses and drank their wine. Damon shook his head and excused himself from the table.
Bonnie stood on the dark patio, hugging her sweater closer to her. The wind was snippy and you could hear it gustling. A creek startled Bonnie. She looked behind her and into the kitchen. She watched the hired cook pace around the kitchen when another sound echoed. Bonnie inched closer to the edge of the patio and down the stairs that led into the garden.
A squirrel darted out behind a bush and Bonnie jumped in surprise. She clutched her chest and exhaled. Footsteps sounded behind her and she was quick to turn around. Her face fell.
"I miss dinner?"
Bonnie began breathing heavily. Anger slowly raised in her body. Tyler stood before her, hands stuffed in his pocket. She shrugged. "Invite only," she replied sharply, her voice cutting through the chilly air. "You're more than welcome to go inside though. My mom's been asking about you." She tested, her voice laced with disdain. She grew bold in her challenge, knowing Tyler wouldn't dare step foot inside.
Not with his guilt. Not with his slight fear that Bonnie might have told somebody, her parents, the disgusting truth about him. He wasn't that stupid, though. Bonnie wasn't either. She had only previously told Damon what she wanted him to know. Not the whole truth. Never the whole truth, and not about Klaus.
He moved closer to her, which made Bonnie recoil, and move away from him, putting more distance between the two. "You haven't answered my calls."
"What? You need money? Maybe around thirty thousand?" Bonnie asked, feigning concern. "What, did you think I wouldn't find out?"
Tyler swallowed hard. "I was going to-"
She cut him off swiftly. "-Give it back? Yeah, before or after Klaus finds you?"
Tyler growled, his own darkness overtaking him. "This isn't about him."
"Then who is it about, Tyler? Henry? He's dead, remember?"
Tyler grabbed Bonnie and pulled her close to him. "He's looking for you, you know!" She rushed out, fighting against his tight grip around her. She gripped him hard, tearing at his skin and shoved him away from her. He scowled, retreating. "I'm going to tell him where you are." she swore.
"You wouldn't," he hissed, glancing down at his arm. It bled a bit from her attack. "You wouldn't dare."
"I think the question here isn't what I have to lose, but what you do." She took a step closer, her voice low and deliberate. "You should do what you do best and leave. For good."
The wind was whistling louder now and getting nippier by the second. Tyler swore profanities under his breath, glaring at Bonnie. His glare scared her and suddenly, those glasses of wine she consumed earlier were nothing and Bonnie had never felt more sober.
"Bonnie?!"
Their heads snapped toward the patio where Vicki stood, calling out for Bonnie. "I'm coming!" She answered. When she turned her head back, she was alone. As quickly as Tyler appeared, he was gone. Bonnie climbed back up the stairs and to the patio where she met Vicki.
"It's freezing out here!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around herself. "What were you doing?"
Bonnie sighed. "Uh just… sobering up.. I'm sorry," she apologized. She felt compelled to apologize— for her behavior, for the outburst at the table, for everything.
"Your mom thinks it's time for you to go home," Vicki answered cautiously. "You ready?" Bonnie nodded sheepishly and started to follow Vicki back inside. Before closing the doors completely, she examined the backyard for any trace of Tyler but the only thing waiting for her was mother nature and her harsh weather.
Nobody was at the table when the two girls returned. Vicki stayed in the dining room and collected her things while Bonnie waited by the front door for her. Like a child waiting for a scolding from her parents.
"Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Foster!" Vicki called out to no response. The house was silent, other than the sound of the chef cleaning up from earlier. No other words were exchanged as the two left the house.
Bonnie climbed into Vicki's black Audi and sunk into the plush red seats. Bonnie's head rested against the window as Vicki drove them down the large driveway. "I'm so embarrassed."
Vicki exclaimed in disagreement. "I'm weirdly.. proud." Bonnie looked at her. Vicki glanced at her and then back at the road. "I mean, did you sound crazy? Yes. But I would do anything to see your mom speechless again! Aha! I have never seen her, just stunned! She was literally speechless!" Vicki laughed to herself and continued to go on about Bonnie's earlier thing.
Vicki's voice boomed over the song on the radio as Bonnie continued to look out of the window. Immediately, her eyes locked with Damon's car. Bonnie gasped aloud, her hand reaching for Vicki.
"What?!" Vicki exclaimed, startled. She slammed on the brakes, eyes darting to where Bonnie was looking. As the headlights flashed in the rearview mirror, Bonnie's breathing quickened. She slowly let go of Vicki's arm and fumbled for her seatbelt.
She let out a heavy sigh, "I hope you know what you're doing."
Bonnie glanced back at Damon's car and then at Vicki, uncertainty in her eyes. "Of course I don't," she replied hastily, unbuckling her seatbelt. Without another word, she swung open the door and stepped out into the cool air, shutting it firmly behind her.
Vicki watched as her best friend ran to the car parked just behind them. Bonnie disappeared, sliding in and making a new home in the passenger seat of Damon's car.
Damon sat, like he was expecting Bonnie, because he was. She took a deep breath and looked at him. He leaned over, his breath hitting Bonnie's skin just right, and pulled her seatbelt over her, securing her in. Without missing a beat, he put his car in drive and sped off. Vicki's car disappearing behind them.
THE next day came and went like it was nothing. It had been a day. Scratch that— it had been one of the best days Bonnie had had in a long, long time. A day spent doing nothing. A day spent answering no one but each other. The more time she spent with Damon, the more she had grown to like him… more than she could have ever thought. Even though it wasn't years that they had known each other, it had definitely felt that way.
The night was slowly reapproaching. It had been nothing short of a lazy, sexy and comforting day. Though they swore to spend it all day in Damon's bed, of course those plans derailed.
Damon had been dying to make an Italian dessert for Bonnie, yet lacked all of the ingredients. Which resulted in dragging Bonnie to a shopping mart just 20 minutes out of the city, 20 minutes away from Damon's apartment.
It wasn't long after arriving that Damon had departed from Bonnie on a search for the ingredients from the recipe. Bonnie busied herself in the cereal aisle, as she waited eagerly for Damon to return.
"Bonnie?" Her ears perked up. A breath got caught in her throat and she almost choked. Turning on her feet, she was met with a very interesting looking Anna. "No way! What… what are you doing here?"
Bonnie chuckled immediately. "Anna… h-hi. I'm, well, shopping. I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Oh, well I live just a block away." Bonnie nodded. Anna didn't hide her curiosity as she peered around her and Bonnie. "Are you here alone?" She asked.
Bonnie nodded, mirroring Anna's actions. "Yep! Last time I checked anyway… unless somebody followed me." Bonnie joked, laughing at her own joke.
Anna however did not laugh, just gave a little smile. She pulled her basket of groceries closer to her. "I was going to tell you at the office but you're here now, so what the heck!" Anna started. "I asked Damon out."
"You what?"
Sighing, she nodded. A smile started to form on her face. "Well I thought about it and why go through a middle man," she said and pointed to Bonnie, "instead of just asking him out myself."
A weird sound escaped Bonnie's mouth, yet no words came with it. "I know, I know. You told me what he said about not being ready and all that but when I asked, he didn't bring it up so… I don't know." She giggled.
Bonnie tried keeping her eyes calm, even though they felt dry and like they were bugging to just fall out of her skull. "Well what, what did he say?"
"Nothing… but." Bonnie sighed. Louder than she intended. "I don't know, I mean at least I did it…" Anna's mouth kept going, yet her words were silenced in Bonnie's mind.
How could Damon not say anything? Well, when could he have? Before or after Bonnie's apparent mental breakdown.
"I'm sorry, Anna. I- I have to go."
"Oh.. okay! Bye Bonnie!" Anna called out, watching as Bonnie completely deserted her post in the grocery store. The parking lot seemed a lot bigger once Bonnie reached it. The search for Damon's car seemed like it would never end.
Finally she reached his car and slid inside quickly. To her surprise, Damon was already there. Bonnie was breathing heavily, yet she tried to hide her anxiety. What if Anna had caught them? She tried to slow her shaking hands as she buckled herself in.
"You okay? You weren't where I left you." Damon inquired, searching her face for a sign of anything.
Bonnie cleared her throat and nodded. "Yep, I had to use the bathroom." She kept her eyes straight, avoiding Damon's persistent gaze on her. The two sat in an awkward five second silence before Damon started up his car and drove them away.
Two hours later and the dessert was made and ready. Bonnie sat across from Damon on his couch, her legs tucked under her as she dragged her fork across her plate and around her dessert. Damon looked up from his plate and smiled. Bonnie reciprocated and then looked back down.
"Is it bad?"
Bonnie shuffled and chuckled nervously. "No, it's great, Damon. You really out did yourself." She leaned forward and placed her plate down on the coffee table.
"Is that why you barely touched it?"
She sighed. "It is really good. I'm just not very hungry." Questions were weighing in Bonnie's head. Should she ask him about Anna? Was now really the time to do so? "I…" she caught herself.
"What's wrong? Talk to me." He asked, cautiously. He too had put down his plate like she did previously.
"I just.." Did you ask out Anna? Is this just a game to you? "I'm just really happy I'm here.. thank you. For everything."
Damon smiled and for once, Bonnie's smile back was real. He stood and reached for her hand which she gladly accepted. The two walked down the hallway and into Damon's room.
Now wasn't the time to bring up Anna. The only thing on Bonnie's mind was Damon.
The way they took each other in started slow, Damon could tell that slow is what Bonnie needed right now. Her mind was racing at a million miles a minute, impossible to slow down. She could barely think as the two kissed each other. Like animals in heat, trying to keep the tension calm, while their bodies told a different story.
Hours had passed since they entered his room and had sex. Bonnie slept soundly as Damon was wrapped around her from behind.
Her dream started as that, a dream. It slowly turned darker and Bonnie found herself in a nightmare. A nightmare of flashing lights and an impossible search for a route to safety. Bonnie fought against herself. It was like her mind was awake, but her body was still asleep.
Someone was chasing her, calling for her in the dark and she couldn't figure out who it was, but she didn't want to. All she was able to do was run.
Suddenly a flash showed behind her eyes, a flash that felt too real.
Bonnie sat up abruptly, waking up for good. Damon laid still behind her, sleeping quietly. Shadows danced in the corners, and she strained to see through the darkness. Her eyes then landed on the bedroom door, which stood slightly ajar. Had they left it open? Bonnie couldn't remember. But the urge to investigate tugged at her.
Creeping across his room and to the hall, Bonnie started for the kitchen. A blur shot out from around the corner, and she gasped in surprise. Her heart raced until she saw Uma bounding toward her.
"Uma," she whispered, half-scolding and half-relieved. Uma pranced toward Bonnie who sighed and scooped her up in her arms. With Uma tucked in her arms, Bonnie peered at the front door that appeared to be closed.
Good. It was just a dream. Maybe she was going crazy after all. As she retreated back to the bedroom, she found comfort again in Damon's arms. Her worrying became slightly less as she slowly fell back asleep.
It was all just in her head.
holy schmoly, i think i'm getting a hang of this whole writing thing again. anywayyy. there's so much more underlying in this story that unfortunately makes Tyler seem like the least of our problems.. well Bonnie's problems.. i mean, we'll see, lol.
as you can see though, Bonnie and Damon are getting a little too selfish and reckless with their ish. it's only sunshine and rainbows until it isn't.
Anywho, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.
see u soon.