Elements of an Ill-Fated Romance Chapter Three: Keifer Sutherland Never...
Playlists: Black Black Heart by David Usher & Infatuation by Maroon 5
Chapter Three: Keifer Sutherland Never had days like this…
She watched the cashier pack away her ice cream in the brown paper bag and hand it to her. She wasn't much older than Bonnie. With big brown eyes and wavy blond hair; she looked too pretty to be a cashier. "Big night tonight?" She asked with a smile noting the three pints of Ben&Jerry's.
Bonnie chuckled softly. "Something like that." She replied handing over the cash before exiting. She didn't bother to mention that her big night was sitting in front of the television, and watching a '24' marathon. Seven straight hours of Keifer Sutherland saving the world… it was going to be a good night.
She inhaled deeply smelling the scent of rain on the horizon. Stopping at her car she looked up, black wings streaked across the sky as gray clouds began to roll in. Yes… a storm was definitely on its way. Exhaling deeply she hopped inside and started up the car. Cranking the radio way up she pulled out of the parking lot and began making her way home.
She exhaled a heavy breath as she sat behind the wheel of her car. Her hands clenched tightly, knuckles practically white as she drove down the road. She squinted trying to see through the heavy downpour her head still nodding ever so slightly to the continuous beat coming from her radio. She was only about another 10 miles from home and a little rain never hurt anyone… almost as if the cosmos were tuning into Bonnie FM radio a flash of lightening lit up the sky as the wind blew a spray of water across the windshield.
She blinked rapidly… keeping her eyes on the road. It wasn't as if she were afraid… it was just rain. But it didn't stop her from reaching out and turning her radio off. "Almost home… almost home…" She chanted softly. And then it happened. It sounded like the popping of a large paper bag in her left ear and then the rhythmic thumping followed as her tire went flat.
Slowing down she pulled off to the shoulder. Shifting into park she jumped out quickly surveying the damage. Yeah definitely a flat in the rear tire; she exhaled brushing the water from her face as she looked up and down the deserted road. There didn't seem to be another car on the road coming this way. Running back into the shelter of her vehicle she reached for her phone ready to call a tow truck. The white beeping words of 'No Service' blinked back at her. In complete frustration she threw the phone onto the passenger seat and simply sat there for a moment. Tapping her fingers on her steering wheel she peered out the window noting the stationary position of the clouds… yeah this wasn't just going to pass over.
She sat there for just a moment thinking over her options. She couldn't just sit here in hopes that someone would come along and rescue her; that could take hours… and she had ice cream in the car… and a marathon to watch! "Come on Bennett… you can do this. Keifer doesn't like damsels in distress!" She remarked. Taking a breath of resolution she popped the trunk and got out to change her own flat tire.
The rain hit her hard as she made her way to the rear and began fumbling with the screws that secured her spare tire. It only took about four tries before she finally dislodged it. Dropping it by her ankle she smirked as it bounced twice before settling against her leg. Closing the trunk she went about changing her tire getting so far as to the side of her car before realizing that she left the jack in the trunk! "Nice move Bonnie… real nice!" She scolded herself going back to retrieve it. Tucking it beneath her arm she closed her trunk turned and gasped as she ran right into something cold and firm. The jack hit the cement with a loud clank as she took a step back and stared at her intruder.
Looking up through the sheet of water she stopped short as he stared her down. "What the hell? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" She asked. Placing a hand over her chest to soothe the rapid beating of her heart she looked him in the eye as he smirked down at her.
"No trust me… there are better ways to give you a heart attack." He quipped leaning down to pick up the jack.
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever; I don't have time for this." She remarked reaching for the tool and exhaled deeply when he pulled it out of her reach. Cocking her head to the side she frowned. "What?" She asked.
"Oh Bonnie!" He dragged her name out and smiled. "What kind of guy would I be to leave you out here in the pouring rain without offering my help?"
"The jackass that you really are I would assume." She remarked reaching once again for the jack but he held it up out of reach.
"You know what they say about people who assume don't you?" When he was met with silence he smiled. "We really need to change the opinion that you have of me." He offered smoothly.
"Not going to happen!" She shot back.
"Look I'm trying to be nice here and offer my help... in the pouring rain no less." He stated with a slight raise of his eyebrow.
"Well if you're trying to be nice; let me return the favor in saying with absolute sincerity… that I don't want your help." She grinned cheekily at him.
Putting up a finger he wagged it in her face as if scolding a small child. "You know Bonnie I don't think that you're taking me seriously."
Dropping her head into upturned palms she groaned. "Look it's cold; I'm wet and I just want to get home. So can you please give me the jack so I can change my tire and be on my way?" She asked tiredly pushing the rain out of her eyes. Her clothes were soaked through and she felt utterly defeated and not in the mood to go back and forth with him.
There was a general moment of silence as he stared her down before finally relenting and handing over her property. "Fine! But don't say that I didn't offer." He remarked.
She didn't reply only rolled her eyes as she walked around him. Kneeling down she tried to ignore him as he came to stand behind her. Instead she focused on the task at hand trying to unscrew the bolts that were locked around the rubber tire. It proved to be more difficult than she expected as her fingertips were becoming numb and slippery from the rain.
"So what exactly are you trying to prove here? That I am woman; here me roar?" He asked sarcastically folding his arms over his chest.
"Why are you still here?" She didn't even bother to look at him as she finally managed to remove the first screw off the tire. She tried to ignore the ache in her forearms and began focusing her strength on the next one.
"You do know that I have strength that far exceeds those of pathetic humans right?" He asked instead.
She rolled her eyes. She knew that he had a point and she was growing weary of doing this... but it was Damon... and there was the principle of the matter! She would not need him. She didn't need him!
"I've... got... this!" She practically groaned as she slipped on the asphalt with the force she was putting behind pulling on the jack. Her bottom hit the road with a soft thud, water seeping through her jeans and up her back. She fought the urge to groan as she flung excess water from her frozen fingertips.
He smiled as she threw a scathing stare his way. "Look just accept that you need my help!"
Standing up slowly she turned to him, her green eyes flashing in the light of the storm. "Why; so then I can go back and tell Elena how you came along and saved the day? Is that what you think I'm going to do? Perhaps put in a good word for you with my best friend in hopes that it might help you in this stupid endeavor you have going of destroying your brother's shot at happiness!"
He stared at her for a moment before nodding. "Yeah that's fine with me." He answered.
"Well I'm not! I like Stefan. He's a good guy." She defended.
"Yeah sure he is." He stated, his tone mocking her. "This is the same guy that attacked Lexi, right?" He asked. "This is the same guy that was sucking on human blood all the while lying to everyone including your best friend, his girlfriend?"
"That was different... it was a mistake!" She cut in.
He stepped forward, crowding her personal space as he leaned in and spoke clearly. "We're both vampires. And regardless of what pretty little excuses you've cooked up to defend my brother doesn't erase the things that he's done! Stefan may have gotten better at hiding what he is... but beneath all those soft spoken words and meaningful stares is a vampire and no amount of love is going to change that!"
His breathing was harsh and he could hear the rapid beating of her heart over the boom of thunder in the distance, as it pumped excessive amounts of blood through her veins. It was hot, practically boiling with... with... anger... frustration... and magic. The energy was so potent he could almost taste it on his tongue and as he looked down into wide green eyes he realized she had no clue just how powerful she truly was capable of being.
What a waste! He thought bitterly as he took a step back. The rain continued to beat down on the both of them and they must have looked like quite the pair, drenched from head to toe arguing in the middle of the road. He would have laughed if she didn't annoy him so much. He turned away ready to give up when her voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Is this the point where you sink your fangs into my neck and rip my throat out?" Her voice was shaky but there was definitely an edge there that he hadn't expected and he smiled unable to help himself.
He chuckled slightly amused at her facade of bravery. "No not at all..." He whispered smoothly coming close, trapping her against the side of her car. He leaned in placing his mouth to her ear. "Trust me... the next time I drink from you... it'll be because you begged me to." She rolled her eyes at his lame come on as he pulled the jack from her hand. Stepping back he smiled. "Now are you going to stand there and continue to tell me how my brother is all kinds of wonderful or are you going to step aside and let me help you?"
She stared at him a moment longer before moving to the left. "Fine... but just so you know, this doesn't change anything between us. You're still a jerk and I still don't trust you!" She shot back folding her arms over her chest.
Shedding his leather jacket he threw it at her haphazardly before kneeling down and beginning to make quick work of her tire.
She stood there watching him in silence her hands wrapped in the soft folds of his jacket. She wouldn't admit it but it was definitely helping her stay warm as a shiver ran up her spine with a fresh gust of wind. Bringing it to her face, trying to find warmth for her nose she inhaled and exhaled absently catching the scent that was Damon…he smelled good. His voice snapped her back to attention.
"The donut will hold you for the next day or so. You'll need to get a new tire in the morning… and don't get the same brand either. You get what you pay for and this tire is a piece of shit." He remarked absently as he began to screw the bolts back into place.
She furrowed her brow. Was Damon Salvatore giving her car advice? "You know about cars?" She questioned before she could stop herself.
He shrugged slightly. "I knew a few mechanics… and I know a good tire from the crap that you had on your car." He exhaled as he gave the hubcap a final tap to make sure it was secure before taking a stand.
She watched him place the flat in her trunk, snapping it closed before coming to stand in front of her. "And don't let them give you some bullshit about being able to patch it up! That tire can't be patched and if they tell you different they're lying." He remarked as he ran a hand through his hair clearing the water from his eyes.
She stared at him and then to her tire. "So that's it then?" She asked.
"That's it."
"So I'm not going to get in my car, get half way down the road and find myself stranded again am I? I mean I'm not going to take a sharp turn around a bend and find that my brakes don't work or something right?" She questioned not sure if she were joking or not. Because this was Damon and you never really could tell.
Cocking his head to one side he smirked. "You know Bonnie it seems to me that you have trust issues with men. Is it because daddy didn't give you enough hugs when you were little?"
She rolled her eyes. "Not with men; just with you." She remarked. She waited a beat before she finally spoke again. "Thanks… for the help." And then she turned on her heel and made her way back to her car because this was weird and she couldn't explain any of it.. Getting inside she slammed the door shut and started it up when there was a slight tapping on her window. Shaking her head slightly she looked over and raised her brow in question. "What?"
Making a gesture for her to roll down the window he smiled when she only opened it a crack. "You have my jacket!" He remarked pointing towards her lap.
Staring down at the leather strewn across her legs she rolled her eyes before opening the window and throwing it in his face. "Here!"
"Thank-you!" He stated before furrowing his brow as he stared at her.
"What?" She asked looking down at herself.
"I can see your bra." He replied nonchalantly.
She looked down at her now see-through white top and shook her head in frustration. "Screw you!" She replied beginning to roll up her window.
She heard him chuckle softly. "And if you do happen to see Elena…"
"I'll make sure to tell her how much of an ass you are!" She finished for him as she pulled off catching a glimpse of him in her rearview mirror as he watched her leave still smiling… and she didn't notice until she was almost home… that she was smiling too.