.Chapter 1: Who am I?
Bonnie stared in the mirror she drowned out the daily noise surround her. They were fixing her hair and shoving outfits in her face to decide on, but she was zoned, four hours before her sold out show at the O2 Arena. "Bon are you okay?" one of the dancers asked.
She nodded and wore a plastic smile. Deep down inside the routines were draining and the expectations were weary. She wanted different but felt voiceless. Bonnie returned to reality and fluffed her Body-Waved hair and smiled. She thanked her hairstylist.
Bonnie Bennett, the most talked about pop-star of the 21st Century at the age of 22 with 100 Million followers and three Billboard hit albums. She spends her time between London and Los Angeles. Everyone wanted to be her friend, guys wanted to fuck her and the other pop girls are always stealing her fashion trends.
Tonight, she sold out O2 Arena but all she could think of is the new material she wanted to pitch to Alaric Saltzman; the label executive. She was tired of being a face and body. She wanted more. She leaped off her chair to watch her dancers rehearsed for the millionth time. Everything had to be perfect. It was the fucking O2 Arena, no mistakes were needed.
Over at Union Chapel, instruments and vocals of Midnight at The Grave filled the empty hall. The boys were preparing for their comeback after a Three-Year hiatus. A few weeks from now they booked their first gig in awhile at Union Chapel. Klaus Mikaelson, the lead vocalist was not worried about the album sales and experimenting with new sounds. Klaus was more worried about how their fans would receive again, he disappear because he wasn't himself and it wasn't healthy for the band. Their drummer/childhood bestfriend Alan has overdosed and died. It was shit show, but the band really needed the comeback. After rehearsals, they sat around the stage discussing tour plans and quick changes to songs. Klaus glanced at Sebastian; the new drummer who was clowning around. Klaus tried to remain his composure. Enzo saw his reaction and smiled, he knew Klaus could be a control freak and he was still unsure about the label replacing Alan with a 20-year-old University brat. Klaus glanced over at Enzo scrolling through his phone "What is happening on that cesspool of a media?" Enzo laughed "Instagram Models sharing their recipes"
"An Instagram Model teaching you to cook sounds like food poisoning" Klaus joked.
"I'm actually going to that Bonnie show with my sister and Rebekah" Enzo said packing up his guitar "You can come. Get out the house". Klaus chuckled "To see a little pop girl dance around in lingerie? I think I prefer my video games"
"The girls love her. She's fun..come on don't be a snob" Enzo said laughing. Klaus shrugged.
One hour before the show, Bonnie was in her dressing room fluffing her hair and fixing her makeup. Lately staring in the mirror is becoming harder, she sipped the sparkling water brought by Elena Gilbert; her bestfriend and publicist. Bonnie kept checking her phone in frustration, she looked over her setlist and exhaled "Are you alright?" Elena asked. Bonnie nodded and hummed the songs while remembering the steps. "O2 Arena isn't as dramatic as everyone makes it out to be..so don't be nervous" Elena smiled organising Bonnie's tour outfits. Bonnie shook her head "Do you ever feel lost? Like you're not truly in your own?"
"Okay now you're scaring me" Elena said sitting on the couch. Bonnie chuckled and rolled her eyes "Nevermind".
"Is it Alaric and Ethan? I know they can be a pain" Elena said. Bonnie exhaled "I'm supposed to make another record, another record like this and the one before..I don't want to make another record like this..I want different" Bonnie threw her arms up and buried her face in her hands. Elena rubbed her back "Look Alaric and Ethan never steered you wrong. It will be fine" Bonnie pushed her off and got up "Whatever I need to finish getting ready"
Rebekah and her bestfriend Marissa laughed and took selfies while waiting in line to get their wrist bands. Enzo kept a watch on them while checking his phone, Rebekah faced changed when she saw Klaus walking up to Enzo smiling "Why are you here? Please disappear or die" Rebekah said. Klaus laughed "I won't judge your playlist nor the culty fandom surrounding me. I just want to get out the house." Rebekah rolled her eyes.
They finally entered the venue after a long queue into Bonnie's sold-out show. Klaus shook his head looking at girls wearing Bonnie merchandise and losing their mind. They made their way to the VIP section overlooking close to the stage with comfortable seats. Rebekah and Marissa were losing their minds, they took selfies of themselves to post on Instagram. Klaus rolled his eyes and decided to get a drink from the mini bar in the VIP section. "Anything good here, love?" Klaus asked the bartender "Bonnie's specialty Whiskey and coke" the bartender said.
"A true popstar alcoholic...I'll take it" Klaus said smirking.
The show started and Klaus sat back watching the girls and Enzo sing along to the corny Pop songs, he chuckled and sipped his drink "You should've brought Violet with you". Enzo chuckled "As if Violet and I can be in the same room together for five seconds" Enzo smiled. Klaus smiled and nodded "You aren't like me Enzo. You care and Violet cares even if you two don't get along sometimes" Klaus said. "You're drunk already" Enzo joked. Klaus chuckled "What do you think about this one?" Klaus asked looking at Bonnie dancing around stage. "She's got those hallow Pop girl eyes, smiling through the labels demands" Enzo joked. Klaus laughed. Rebekah rolled her eyes "You guys are fucked up"
Bonnie grabbed the towel and wiped her face; she sipped her water and pushed her bouncy hair out her face. She blinked and tried to swallow her annoyance. She wore a fake smile while posing for photos with a few teen faces. Rebekah and Marissa freaked out when they realise how close they were to Bonnie. They smirked at each other because they knew their concert traditions everything, they got VIP tickets.
Klaus returned to the spot where he left Enzo and the girls, he looked around after noticing the girls were not by his side. "Where are the girls?" Klaus asked. "Uh they were going to take a picture with Bonnie". Klaus looked around and paused "She's not there anymore. You do know the girls like to radar dressing rooms?". Enzo and Klaus looked at each other and decided to split up and look for them.
Klaus knew the arena all too well, he wandered away in the hallways backstage. A dancer smoking glanced at him as he walked by. He saw a door slightly opened and carefully peaked in the room but it was quiet. He stepped inside, closed the door and began looking around. Her clothes were laying around and her makeup was stretched across the vanity table. He heard heels stamping and approaching the door, he quickly hid in the narrow closet "Fuck!" he muttered. She was yelling on the phone and throwing her towel "YOU FUCKING PROMISED TO BE HERE! YOU KNEW O2 WAS A BIG DEAL FOR ME, DAMON. YOU COULD'VE TAKEN THE TRAIN. ITS FUCKING TWO HOURS" Bonnie yelled sitting infront of the mirror and taking off her boots. Klaus kept thinking he shouldn't be here and this was an invasion of privacy. She switched off her phone before he could explain and threw it on the couch. She stared in the mirror and started crying. Klaus felt a pit in his stomach and he wasn't the most empathetic person. She swallowed her tears and exhaled, she got up and sat on the couch. She put out her guitar case and took out her guitar. He observed with a puzzling look. He didn't know she played. He thought she was just a other pop girl dancing around stage.
She strummed her guitar softly, searching for the right sound. Opening a black book beside her, she began to hum a melody. Through the cracked door, he watched her intently as she sang:
And I feel love
Like the real stuff
You don't know and then you know
That's how it goes
His phone began ringing in his jacket and she gasped stating up at the closet. She placed the guitar down and stood up immediately "Who's there?". Klaus stepped put and stared at her with his phone in his hand "This is not what it looks like. I'm not a fan…I don't mean your music is bad..I'm not a stalker.. I.. I'm …okay I'm not a stalker". Bonnie stared at him "But who are you?". Klaus stared at her and a part of him felt happy that she didn't know who he was and she wasn't poisoned by the media. "Klaus Mikaelson" he said stretching out his hand to shake hers. She stared at him and his hand. She observed his tattoos on his hands and his eyeliner.
"I'm really not a stalker. I didn't even want to be here . My sister and her silly friend are obsessed with you" Klaus laughed.
"You think my music is shit?" Bonnie asked. Klaus laughed nervously but she stared at him waiting for an honest answer.
"Oh..it's all a bit repetitive. There is nothing entirely wrong with Pop..if it can make sense. I don't think you're enjoying, there is more to you" he said looking at her guitar. She smiled slightly "Are you from Pitchfork?"
"God..I rather be the stalker" he joked. She laughed loud.
Suddenly Rebekah and Marissa burst into the room laughing
"Rebekah!" Klaus said. The girls looked at Bonnie and squealed. They couldn't stop freaking out and asked her to take pictures with them. Klaus stood back and observed how easily it was for her to mask it.
In the car ride back to home Klaus was silent and the girls were surprised he didn't have any sparky remarks about their photos with Bonnie. He was deep thoughts and Enzo nudged him "Never meet heroes Rebekah" he said smiling. Rebekah rolled her eyes.
Bonnie sat in her tub at her penthouse and stared at the ceiling. She thought about Damon and her strange night. She scrolled through her phone. Random girls tagging her I'm their concert pictures. She kept scrolling to a girl's photo with the caption 'Klaus Mikaelson of Midnight at the Grave was at Bonnie's concert' . Bonnie sat up in the tub and frowned. She zoomed into his face, her stalker and she smiled "Klaus Mikaelson" she muttered to herself. She searched his name on Instagram and then Google- Klaus Mikaelson, lead vocalist of Rock/Alternative/Metal band Midnight at the Grave, 30 and eccentric in his performances. Drunk or high on stage.
"You disappeared Klaus" she said scrolling through his Instagram and looking at his last post about a year ago. She deep dived and found someone on reddit saying he was in rehab in Switzerland. She went back to the band's page and saw they had an upcoming gig. Bonnie jumped when she saw Elena standing by the door "You're going to get wrinkly in that tub"
Bonnie laughed, "I know, I just got caught up in something."
Elena raised an eyebrow, "Caught up in what? Stalking someone?" Bonnie smirked, "Maybe. This guy Klaus Mikaelson? Showed up in my dressing room" she laughed.
Elena thought for a moment, "The lead singer of that band... Midnight at the Grave?"
"Yeah, him. He was at my concert last night," Bonnie said, showing Elena the photo on her phone.
Elena's eyes widened, "No way! That's crazy. What's he doing now?"
"Apparently, he was in rehab in Switzerland. He's back in the UK. But the band has an upcoming gig," Bonnie explained.
Elena nodded, "Are you thinking of going?"
Bonnie shrugged, "I don't know. Now, help me get out of this tub before I turn into a prune."
Bonnie met her best friend Caroline Forbes for lunch in Soho, London. Caroline was studying to be a pediatrician and always had interesting stories to share from her classes. They chose a cozy little Italian restaurant that Bonnie loved for its privacy and delicious Alfredo pasta. The restaurant had a warm, rustic charm with exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and soft, ambient lighting. The aroma of freshly baked bread and simmering sauces filled the air, creating an inviting atmosphere.
As they settled into their seats and ordered their food, a few people recognized Bonnie and approached her for pictures. She obliged with a polite smile, but inside, she was slightly annoyed. She had hoped for a quiet lunch with her friend, away from the public eye.
Caroline noticed Bonnie's discomfort as they started eating their Alfredo pasta and sipping white wine. "You okay, Bon?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern.
Bonnie sighed, "Yeah, it's just... sometimes I wish I could have some privacy, you know? It's like I can't go anywhere without being recognized."
Caroline nodded sympathetically, "I can imagine. It must be tough always being in the spotlight."
As they continued their meal, a few paparazzi managed to snap some photos of Bonnie from a distance. She tried to ignore them, but it was hard to relax knowing they were being watched.
Bonnie took a sip of her wine and looked at Caroline, "Lately I've been out of it. I don't know anymore, Care"
Caroline reached across the table and squeezed Bonnie's hand, "You're an amazing artist, Bonnie. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise. Maybe you just need to take a step back and find what truly makes you happy."
Bonnie smiled, grateful for Caroline's support. "Thanks, Care. I really needed to hear that."
Bonnie shifted the conversation, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Have you ever heard of Midnight at the Grave?" she asked, leaning in slightly.
Caroline's face broke into a knowing smile. "Oh, absolutely! Stefan is a huge fan of theirs. We actually made out to their songs at a few gigs," she said with a playful wink.
Bonnie laughed, "Really? I had no idea they were that popular."
Caroline nodded, "Yeah, they're pretty big in the rock scene. Stefan even has all their albums. Why do you ask?"
Bonnie hesitated for a moment, then said, "I found out that Klaus was at my concert last night. I didn't know who he was until I looked him up."
Caroline's eyes widened, "No way! That's crazy. Did you get to talk to him?"
Bonnie shook her head, "He was in my dressing room. Long story I was thinking about going to their next gig. It's only fair that I crash his show after he came to mine. And I'd love to have your company. Let's make it a girls' night."
Caroline's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Count me in! It sounds like an adventure."