What Lies Beneath

Chapter 54: What Happens In Vegas

"So the town hasn't burned down without me?"

Sitting on the balcony of their expensive Vegas hotel suite, Bonnie stared out at the brightly colored lights of the city and listened as her best friend giggled on the other end of the phone. Old habits were hard to break and that included checking in on the people she cared about more than anything else. Even though she was happy to be away. Even though she was happy to have Damon all to herself. Even though she'd never felt more free than she did with Mystic Falls far in her rearview mirror. She just couldn't shake worrying about her friends a little bit. Damon said it was because she had a kind heart but she wondered; if they needed her right now would she go?

Past Bonnie would have immediately answered yes without hesitation but that was the Bonnie that still had her Grams. The Bonnie whose mother wasn't a vampire and who had not been stalked by a pony drawing hybrid bent on whining and threatening until he got his way. The person that she was now felt harder and more mature.

The person that she was now realized if she didn't take care of herself she'd suffer more than anyone else. And where was the law or rule that said that had to be the case? Not that she was comparing tragedy notes with Elena but how was it fair for her mother to leave to save a child that wasn't even her own? How was it fair that she had to grow up motherless while Elena did at least get several years with hers? Why did the world expect her and others to pay with their lives and happiness so that Elena continued to come out on top?

Frowning at her thoughts, she wet her lips and stretched out her legs under the soft beige blanket. She wasn't sure where that line of thinking originated anymore but sometimes she found this odd sense of resentment where her best friend was concerned. Once she'd said that she would die for her—now she wondered why she'd ever thought that in the first place. Deep down she sometimes wondered if Elena was still really her best friend. There was just so much drama surrounding them. From Elena's crush on Damon to lots of other stuff.

It made Bonnie sad sometimes because before the Salvatores came back to town they were thick as thieves. She couldn't help but wonder where those girls had done.

"Bonnie? Hello? Are you there?"

"Sorry. I'm sorry what did you say?"

Elena chuckled softly. "I said no things are quiet here actually. It's weird to be honest. I guess I'm so used to being scared for my life or whatever that when I'm not, it doesn't seem normal anymore. Is that how it feels for you?"

Bonnie rubbed the back of her neck idly. "Kinda. But at the same time I'm having so much fun with Damon. Words I never thought I would utter but seriously this trip has been amazing. I feel like—like we've grown so much closer." Pause. "You know when we got together everything was amped up and sometimes I would think that once things calmed down for good, we'd fizzle out and just be stuck with this magical connection. But it's not like that at all. It's been just the two of us for weeks now and if possible I want him more than ever."

"Aw that's so sweet." Elena cooed dreamily. "You always have been the one to get to Damon's core and not get burnt by it."

Bonnie arched a brow. "I've gotten burned, maybe not as bad as others but I've gotten burned. I think the difference is that I burned back."

Her friend hummed in response. "Could be. In any case I am happy that you're doing okay. I know this has been a trying year for you."

Sometimes Bonnie wondered if Elena was as sincere as she claimed to be. "Yeah. Having ones' vampire mother take off on them for a second time doesn't exactly scream best year ever. And all of the Klaus shit…" She rubbed her forehead. "If I didn't have to I'd never come home."