Disclaimer: If I owned it, my first decision would be to fire Julie Plec

Chapter 18

Jealousy Thy Name Is Damon Salvatore

4 months after the tomb opening

"Caro, I really don't know about this," Bonnie said again, looking at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a great pair of jeans with a clingy, cowl necked, purple sweater that accentuated her petite, yet curvy figure. On her feet were the purple Loubitins her father brought her from New York. Never let it be said that Winston Bennett forgot a deal. He had come back from his business trip laden with the items Bonnie had requested. He handed her four shopping bags full of clothes and accessories totaling about $2500, never once looking her in the eye, or apologizing for leaving her on the anniversary of her mother's death. Bonnie took the things, gave her father a peck on the cheek, and realized that this was as much of a father as Winston would ever be.

Between that, him missing her birthday (she got a Movado watch and some Tiffany baubles for that absence), and all her drama with Damon, Bonnie had finally had enough. She was done being second to everything and everybody. From the time she left the Salvatore Boardinghouse the morning after she opened the tomb, Bonnie concentrated on herself. She started speaking her opinion more openly, she walked around town with more confidence than ever before, slowly but surely Bonnie was becoming more comfortable in her own skin and people, especially those of the male sex, were starting to notice. One that noticed was a new transfer student named Luka Martin. He was in her English Literature class and the teacher had asked her to bring him up to speed on what they were currently reading and discussing in class. Bonnie agreed and the two had become fast friends. Then suddenly out of the blue, Luka had asked her on a date the other day. Bonnie had been taken aback, never once had Luka indicated he wanted to be more than friends. Caroline, who had overheard him asking her out immediately answered that Bonnie had no plans for Saturday and would love to go out with Luka.

So here she was getting ready for her date, but something in the back of her mind kept niggling at her. She couldn't put her finger on her, but when she was around Luka something felt off. He was funny, charming and engaging, but it just didn't feel "right" being with him.

"Bonnie, please. I know you keep thinking something is wrong with him, but I think you're just second guessing yourself because of Damon," Caroline said.

"That's not true," Bonnie said without any force behind it. Knowing Caroline already knew she didn't really mean it. True to her words that morning 4 months ago, she had steered clear of Damon, never venturing to the Boardinghouse, never mentioning him when hanging out with Stefan (and he had the courtesy never to bring up his brother, as well). On the handful of occasions they were in each other presence Bonnie was polite and quickly escaped him, ignoring the hurt she would see in his eyes and the voice in her head telling her to talk to him. Bonnie knew she was still vulnerable to Damon; he still occupied a great portion of her heart. She knew that 18 years old was young to talk about never getting over someone, especially someone who had hurt you so much, but she knew deep down she would always be in love with Damon on some level. It was just something she had to accept.

"Yea it is. Listen, Luka seems fine, mom had to run a background check on his dad when he started working at the museum and everything came back good. If anything Matt and I will be at the same restaurant, so if anything happens we'll be right across the room. Just relax, this is a good thing. You need to get back into the dating scene." Caro replied, bringing Bonnie back to their conversation.

Bonne rolled her eyes, but nodded her head and gave her lips a swipe of gloss as the doorbell rang.

Luka Martin waited on the other side of the Bennett door. He had been waiting for this moment since he slid in the seat behind Bonnie Bennett a few weeks ago. Her heady scent entranced him. He could feel the power running through her veins just by sitting a few inches from her. It was all he could do to keep his head on straight and shield his warlock heritage from her. When going into this plan with his father, he was reluctant to try and get close to the rumored last and strongest Bennett witch, but upon meeting Bonnie, his reluctance faded into real attraction. He was eagerly anticipating spending an evening with her not talking about school work. He reached out to ring the doorbell, the light, airy bells reminding him of Bonnie's voice.

Caroline opened the door and greeted Luka, "Hi" she said, ushering him into the living room. "Bonnie is just finishing getting ready. Thanks so much for driving us to the restaurant."

"No problem," Luka responded. "I'm going to be the envy of every man there with the loveliest young ladies in Mystic Falls on my arms."

"You are such a flatterer," said a voice from the doorway. Caro and Luka both turned to see Bonnie enter the room.

"You look breathtaking," Luka said, handing her small bouquet of roses he had behind his back.

"Ohh, those are gorgeous," Caroline enthused, grabbing the flowers before Bonnie could. "I'll take them to the kitchen and put them in water before we leave."

Bonnie gave her friend a sharp look, indicating her irritation at the blonde for leaving the room. "Thanks for the flowers they are really pretty," Bonnie said, after an awkward couple of seconds.

"Not as beautiful as you," he said.

"Luka, I don't…" Bonnie started to say only to be cut off by Caroline re-entering the room, placing the roses on the end table next to the couch.

"Alright, let's get to the restaurant before Matt starts texting and calling me," Caroline said.

Bonnie offered a tight smile to Luka and the duo followed Caroline out the door.

At the restaurant

Bonnie felt herself relaxing as the evening went on. Luka was making it easy by engaging her in frivolous small talk, such as Hollywood gossip, the Mystic Falls High social scene and sports. Even though the date was going perfectly, Bonnie couldn't help the tingling feeling that something was off with him. She kept telling herself that it was because of her disaster with Damon and that Luka was just someone interested in her. He was just what she needed. He had no need for her powers and just wanted to get to know her better. Just as she had mentally convinced herself that dating Luka was a good thing, she felt a familiar shiver throughout her body.
As much as she tried not to look up, she couldn't help herself and turned around to look directly into Damon Salvatore's ocean blue eyes. He was standing about 5 tables away with a tall, willowy red head draped on his arm.

Damon looked into the green gaze of his beloved witch. When he walked into the restaurant, he had smelled her before he had seen her. She was looking beautiful, per her usual. Not that he had seen much of her over the last 4 months. The few times that had been at the same function, she had run away from him so fast, he swore he had seen her smoke trailing behind her. He knew through Stefan that she was growing more powerful as the days went by. He could also see a new confidence in her. She was sparkling as she spoke to the punk she was sitting with. Then she looked up and right into his eyes. The scene around seemed to disappear and it was as if only the two of them were there. Damon heard Bonnie's breathing become shallow, saw her eyes darken, and smelled her body betraying her. In that span of seconds, when she was not prepared to hide her behind her mask of hatred, Bonnie had given Damon the go ahead he had been patiently waiting for. She still wanted him, she still loved him and Damon was ready to reclaim her heart.

"Damon," called the red head, shaking his arm. Damon glared down at her, then back up, but it was too late, the connection to Bonnie had been broken and she was now purposely avoiding looking at him. Damon turned his attention back toward his companion. Some woman he had picked up earlier during a walk in the park and decided she would make a good meal for him and that the least he could do was buy her dinner and a drink before dining himself. Now he wished he had just fed from her in the park. She was shallow, annoying, and had been mentally counting Damon's money based on his car and clothes.

"What," Damon asked, continuing to glare as they sat down.

"I was just wondering what had you so mesmerized, but I see now. Don't you think she's a little on the young side? I didn't take you for a sugar daddy," she responded, sarcastically.

"You don't know me, lady and you for damn sure don't know her. Who I want is none of you damn business. So now you've just cost yourself a meal," Damon said, dilating his pupils. "You have a headache and are going home. "

"I have a headache and am going home," she repeated, getting up and exiting the restaurant.

Bonnie noticed out of the corner of her eye Damon's date leaving and him still sitting at his table. She could feel his eyes upon her, daring her to look in his direction. Try as she might she could not concentrate on anything Luka was saying. She looked in the other direction to try and signal Caroline that she needed her, only to see the blonde snuggled in Matt's arms, not the least bit interested in her. Bonnie decided to excuse herself to the bathroom, when a shadow fell over the table.

"Hello, Bonnie. How are you this fine evening?" Damon said, kneeling down between her and Luka.

"Damon, please leave us alone," Bonnie said, mustering up as much courage as possible.

"But you haven't introduced me to your date," Damon turned his attention to Luka. "I'm Bonnie's ex, Damon Salvatore and you are?"

"You are not my ex-boyfriend Damon, for heaven's sake, we never even had a date, let alone a relationship," Bonnie said, fire flashing in her eyes.

Damon smirked at seeing the cracks in her armor "I know you're still angry at me, but dragging this guy into our little spat isn't going to bode well for him."

"Get away from us Damon. You promised you would stay away."

"No, you laid down the rules and I said nothing. Don't mistake silence for compliance. I gave you time to heal and in that time I've been learning about myself. We'll go through all that later, but know this: you and I are not over. I will not give you up."

Luka finally felt compelled to jump into the fray, "listen man, its obvious Bonnie wants nothing to do with you," he said rising from his seat.

Damon then pulled himself to his full height. By this time Caroline had noticed Damon at the table with Bonnie and she and Matt had joined the trio at the table.

"Listen baby boy," Damon addressed Luka. "I have no problem with you. I, of all people know how irresistible Bonnie is. I just want it to be known that when all is said in done, she'll be in my arms. So enjoy the fun while you can. But I would advise you not to put your hands on her; otherwise, I might not be so calm. Have a good night and remember her curfew is midnight."

Damon then turned to Bonnie and grabbed her hand, planting a kiss on it. "I love you and I'm going to keep saying it until you believe it." With that he calmly walked out of the restaurant.

Bonnie watched as the vampire left and then turned her eyes toward Luka. "I'm so sorry for that."

Luka forced a smile, "no worries, there was bound to be a crazy ex lurking in your background."

Bonnie gave him a smile.

"Do you want to go home Bon? We could take you," Matt offered.

"No, I'm not letting Damon ruin tonight. Luka and I were having a good time and I want some tiramisu for dessert. Now we've made enough of a scene, you two go back to making google eyes at each other," Bonnie responded, sitting back down.

Caroline smiled as she led Matt back to their table.

Salvatore Boardinghouse

Damon stormed into the Boardinghouse, heading straight for the bar. Stefan and Elena jumped apart at his slamming of the front door. Elena ducked behind Stefan, seeing the rage that was in Damon.

"What happened?" Stefan asked, walking over to his brother. He and Damon had been working toward a healthier relationship in the previous months. Both had apologized for previous sins, and although it had been a long and painful journey, they had forgiven each other. The teasing and put downs remained, mostly from Damon, but they were more terms of endearment.

"Don't play dumb with me. She was out on a date and don't tell me BFF #1 hasn't mentioned that to you," Damon sneered as he downed a glass of Evan Williams in one gulp.

"I didn't know," Elena said. "Bonnie hasn't been confiding a ton in me lately, neither has Caroline. Hell, Stefan and I just started to work out our problems. When we hang out, we watch movies and eat. They're not telling me personal stuff anymore. We still have a bunch of shit to work out before that happens again."

"I just knew she was tutoring a guy from her English Lit class to get him caught up since he transferred in. I think his name is Lucas or something like that," Stefan said.

"Luka, the little snot's name is Luka," Damon said, pouring another glass. "You should have seen him, practically undressing her with his eyes. It took all my control to not to drain his ass."

"Look Damon, you have to face reality. Bonnie may not ever want to be with you anymore and she's going to see other people," Stefan advised.

"I don't think so. There was a moment when she noticed me in the restaurant; I saw that she still loves me. All I have to do is convince her that I don't love Katherine and that she's the only one I want," Damon replied.

"Well that won't be easy," Elena said.

"If it was easy, I wouldn't want it," Damon said, throwing her a wink.

Pearl's House

"Look, it's been 4 months, when are you going to get it through you skull that I don't have it," Pearl said.

"When are you going to realize that I'm the queen of lies and manipulation and I know you have it? You took it from my bag the night they rounded us up. You and Emily were the only ones who knew where it was, and I know Emily didn't have it otherwise the Salvatore's would have it," Katherine practically screeched.

"How do you know they don't have it?" Anna questioned, trying to keep another argument between her mother and Katherine from escalating. Katherine had shown up on their doorstep months ago, demanding something from her mother. Something her mother swore time and again she didn't have. Anna didn't know what this mystery object was, but it had Katherine pretty desperate. She and Pearl knew Katherine wasn't staying in town, but she was close to it. The only reason Katherine hadn't shown her face in Mystic Falls was because she didn't want the Salvatores to know she was back.

"Because Emily didn't take it, so that means your mommy dearest did. I've waited over a century for you to give me back what's mine. If I don't get it soon, I'm going to be very angry and you know I get very unpredictable when I get angry," Katherine threatened.

"Oh please, you won't kill me. If you did, you know the Salvatores would be all over my death and the trail would lead straight to you. And you probably need me for something other than this amulet you keep going on about, which is why you keep coming here," Pearl said, unfazed by Katherine's theatrics.

"Pearl, I need that amulet. It's the key to everything and you're going to help me find it," Katherine said.

"No, I'm not. The last time I got caught up in your web, I was trapped in a tomb withering away for more than 100 years. If you want that amulet, find it yourself and leave me out of it or I'll go straight to Damon and Stefan." Pearl said walking over to the door, opening it.

Katherine huffed, and walked out the door. Katherine walked over to the car she was driving, wheels in her mind turning. "Well," she thought to herself. "Looks like I'll be meeting my doppelganger and Emily's witch sooner rather than later.