Quiet Achiever

Bonnie's POV

I race to find a note on the kitchen table. I've been moving so fast I haven't had the time to take a breather. It read,

Hey, Bonnie. I've been busy lately, but you're always on my mind. I won't be home for some time. Remember the balance. Don't do anything reckless.

Grams.

Why? Why is she like this? She goes out on her own, doing unnecessary things. Drawing on power only through nature, the bigger things in life. I'd found someone who was able to teach me more. I wasn't ignoring her at all, just pushing it to one side as I see fit. My fingers spread to light a candle, the one next and the one after that. I let go but it continues in a chain reaction, synchronised and precise. No need to worry, Grams, I'm in control.

I hear a knock at the door, a resounding one. Here he is!

"Take a seat." I say, and he does in obedience.

"How is your progress going?" He pants, "I was worried… I could feel the Expression from a mile away…"

"I just lit some candles, see?" I gestured.

"But it was a chain!" He yells, hysterical. "A fierce chain! One that could've led to great danger if you, Bonnie Bennett, had the motive."

"It's ok, Shane. I'm in control." I say with a sweet confidence. "I have a question."

He sighs, "Fire away."

"What happens when you find that everyone around you is going blind?"

"I'm sure there's something for that. Probably something supernatural…" He flicks through several pages of his dusty book.

"No, I meant blinded by love."

He slams it shut. "There's nothing in the records for that one. It's nature's way! You can't interfere with that! If you're in love, well, experience the joy. If not, then, uh… Suffer."

"Suffer? That's unthinkable. I think you have the wrong motives!" My thoughts build up. Everything is coursing at rapid speed. I mutter inside for her comfort, "Grams. Don't worry."

"You're exactly like her, and them, and the entire Earth!" Anger surges around me, glass objects shattering, wind howling and hair blowing fiercely. The curtains are waving and every other stable object is quaking. I aim it all at Shane, because right now, breaking him would give me the greatest satisfaction. He really deserves it. The glass pierces his skin, blood oozing.

"Look, you don't have control! It's controlling you." He gives me a death glare. "I can make sure that it remains passive, playing under your rules… Let me go!" He screams, glass cutting deeper and deeper, blood now making pools on the floor. "Let me go!" It was like a flash of lightning, quick and nimble. He was released, leaving for his life. "I don't think you're a good person anymore…" he shouts, the echoes drifting away as he did.

Haha! Well played! Bonnie, 1, Shane, 0.

I cleaned up the mess quickly with magic, and at the perfect time. She's home. I picked up a book, and flicked furiously and intently through the pages.

"Hi Grams!" I smile, looking up.

"Miss Bonnie Bennett!" She growls. Oh no… it's the trouble name. "What have you done?!"

"I'm just practising, Grams! There is nothing else behind it." I breathe, long and hard. She appears to believe.

"I'll be making tea. Remember that." She says, walking over to the kitchen and heating up a kettle.

"Thank you..."

"But not for you… Who was that maniac that ran out of our house?"

"His name is Shane. He's helping me with magic. He got scared of me."

"And so he should! I felt your aura from miles away! It was distinctly different to normal. It was forceful, malicious and fierce, nothing like the Bonnie Bennett I normally know... I'm gonna pour some coffee."

"Ok…" I slouch into the couch. I go so far down that I'm nearly on the floor.

"Aha! You're not thinking straight! I know what you've been doing. You will pay for this, and," she clears her throat, giving me yet another death look, "There's nothing I can do." I'm up off the ground now, trembling at the fear of consequences.

"I'm fine, Grams, honestly!" I spit.

"No you're not!" She yells, chanting a spell. I don't know this one, it's something odd. It appears she's had a change of heart once she's done, giving me a warm, grandmotherly hug with a cup. "Drink."

You know what? I have nothing to lose. I drink willingly and joyously because the mixture is so tantalising, so much so that I didn't recognise that it was a sedative.

"Damn it!" I scream, before dropping asleep.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm lying on my bed, slowly rising to see Jeremy. Jeremy, out of all people!

"Your grandmother let me in." He smiles, stroking my hair.

"Well, tell her to piss off!" I screech, but Jeremy shushes me.

"I have something to tell you."

"Oh, yeah?" I say almost bitterly, sarcastically. I think it's the drugs talking. "What is it?"

"Things are comin' around for both of us. You know it. We have each other, and it's great. Don't worry about that cloud of doubt, it'll go away it about three seconds…"

"Uh, Jer, I have no clue what you mean, I—"

"Count me down!" He exclaims with a frightening passion, edging himself closer.

"I, uh…"

"Just do it, Bonnie, do it!"

"Ok, three, two," I pause to add suspense, "O—"

"I got the blessing! I got Elena's blessing!"

"What?!" I scream and clutch his hands, "How? What does she think?"

"I just asked, but I was scared as hell! She's happy for us. For the time going, at least."

"Oh my God, Jer!" I beam, kissing him fast and lethal. He was right about the doubt. It's cleansed.

"Thank Elena!" He moans, "Not me."

"I will!" I say as we let go, "I will."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I found Elena the next day at Mystic Grill. She ever so kindly invited me for lunch. It felt like I should be doing something instead, since she gave me the biggest gift of all.

"So, are you happy?" I ask, munching on a sandwich.

"Well, Jeremy's happy, you're happy, so I'm happy. Just don't go to any extremes." She replies, picking with her salad.

"I mean, you just gave us relief, so why can't we?" My voice reeks with surprise.

"Oh…" she pauses, mulling over the words, "So you don't… I don't know… break the bed with a high schooler who's underage, might get out drinking, miserable spirals, so on and so forth?"

"I get it. You're protective."

"Yeah, Bonnie, sure as hell I am! Didn't you know? I don't want anyone else upset, even worse, I don't wanna lose him." She's on the verge of a mental breakdown.

"Eat your salad." I say.

"Fine!" She stabs the salad and munches aggressively.

"I'll go now…"

"No, stay." She replies, "I'm not in a good mood. I need someone."

"Find Stefan!"

"He's out."

"Damon?"

"Drinking."

"On the bar stools over there? Oh, he's ugly." I say. She's riled up now.

"Stefan's mine. He's mine, too! Ok?"

"Sure, they're yours, you've wrapped them around your fingers, but you can't have both. Anyway, I have Jeremy! "

"Great." She walks over to him, I suppose to let off some steam. Steam is good for no one. I watch on in curiosity.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Damon's POV

I'm drinking, having a great time, and Elena walks over, taking a seat next to me. She seems pissed, but whatever happened before isn't my problem. Besides, now that she's seen me, she's cooled down.

"Hey, Damon."

"Hey, Elena. What can I do for you?"

"Can you tell me where Stefan is? I've been looking for him everywhere!" I lie, but I do want to see Stefan. His happiness is contagious.

"Oh, um…" I pause. I'll call him, actually…" I pick up the phone, "Hey, Stefan, you there?" All I hear is growling and the sound of screams. I know exactly what he's up to. "I think he's gone for a stroll down into the woods. You'll find him there."

"Thanks, Damon." She smiles, walking away content. Although Elena is gone to devastate herself in ignorance, Bonnie knows what's up.

"What's up, witchy?"

"You lied to her!"

"Well, she has to know at some point. In all truth, he is out in the woods, probably walking before he found an innocent human and ripped it to shreds!"

"She'll come back to us crying!��

"Well, at least us good ones can cheer her up."

She sighs. "I suppose that's true…" I grab another drink from the bartender and chug it down. I grab one for Bonnie but she pushes it away.

"Too bad…" I mutter, "More for me!" I continue. Honestly, I could go all day…