AN: this just came out of boredom and randomness. not beta still.
Caroline ran out of the elevator, into the reception of area of the fashion house she was working for. Blair Easton was expanding into a couture line and Caroline was lucky enough to get a job at the fashion house. She looked at the receptionist who gave her a look. The look that Blair was here and crazed again. Caroline took off her flip flops and put on her 4 inch Prada heels and composed herself as she walked down the hall.
"Caroline! Come here!" Blair yelled out as she was sitting with someone in her office
Caroline walked in and saw Blair smiling, which was odd, most of the time she was stressed out and crazed. She saw another blonde sitting there smiling.
"Caroline, this is Rebekah, she's the model I was telling you about." Blair said as she picked up her buzzing phone
"Hi" Caroline said as she extended her hand out
"Hi" Rebekah said as she shook her hand
"So Caroline, please take Becca for a fitting, and give her whatever she wants"
"But Blair-"
"No buts I need you to make sure Becca's happy!" Blair said looking at her phone
"Alright, follow me Becca"
The two girls walked out of the office and down the hallway. Caroline saw that Rebekah must have been no more than 17, with golden hair that looked like it was spun by angels that cascaded down her back in curls. Meanwhile Caroline slept in curlers that were uncomfortable to get her hair into curls. She signed at herself inwardly that no one should be able to look that good without trying. She rubbed the back of her head where she felt the dent of one of her curlers.
"Blair really is something isn't she?" Rebekah asked
Caroline heard her accent and signed inwardly even more. Not only was she a model she was british too!
"Yeah she is"
"I'm a size 2"
"Course you are" Caroline searched the racks of clothing and found the size 2 section
"I'm new to this city, and I was hoping you could help me"
"Sure, I've only been here a few months. This city's kinda overwhelming at times"
"I'm looking for my brother, I haven't seen him in years, the last I heard from him was that he joined the fire brigade here"
"Your brother's a fireman?"
"Yes, I suppose that's what you call them here"
Images of firemen flashed through Caroline's mind. She smiled.
"Oh yeah I'll help you find him. Do you know where his firehouse is?"
"I'm not sure, he wrote to me in a letter about it"
"Don't worry, we'll find him, and all his hot firemen friends"
"Caroline!"
"What? Look I just broke up with my boyfriend of like 3 years, I'm in the healing process"
"Alright, I'm sure my brother can help"
"So what's his name?"
The fire truck was pulling into the house and the bay door started to go down. The firefighters jumped off the truck and headed for the showers. Klaus took his jacket off and hung it up. He looked down at Mikealson, the name across the bottom of his jacket. He dusted it off a bit before heading to the shower.
Caroline and Rebekah were walking towards the closest firehouse they could find. They found a few firemen hanging around with the bay door open. The two girls walked up to them and smiled. The firemen immediately perked up and stood up.
"Hello ladies"
"Hi, we're looking for her brother, he's a fireman like you guys are" Caroline said trying not to flirt
"What's his number?" a fireman asked
"I don't have his cell phone number" Rebekah answered
"No, his house number? He's either on the engine or truck, and that has a number on it. If you tell us, then we can help you"
"Oh, I'm not sure," Rebekah reached into her back and pulled out a letter.
She looked at the letter and the sketch behind it. It was of a wolf. She showed the firemen the picture.
"He says that there's a wolf in his firehouse?" Rebekah said
"Oh, he's in 215, they're out in Queens. They're near the expressway. I'll write down the address for you"
"Thanks" Rebekah smiled
"How old are you?" the fireman asked
"17"
"Jailbait!" the fireman yelled out
The other firemen scattered and walked off. Caroline sighed.
"I'm 22!" Caroline yelled out
Caroline and Rebekah climbed out of the cab and looked at the firehouse.
"So this is it?" Caroline asked
"Do I look ok?"
Caroline turned and looked at Rebekah.
"Yeah, you look perfect"
"I haven't seen him in years, not since I was in grade school. He writes me letters, but I don't always get them. He started sending them to my older brother Elijah instead. I wondered how he was, if he missed me or not."
"I don't know what happened with you and your brother, but he's a damn fool if he isn't happy to see you. Cmon we made it all the way here" Caroline took her hand and led her to the door.
Suddenly someone ran into the both of them. Caroline felt someone pulling her expensive handbag that she borrowed from work. She saw the teenage boy pulling on her bag. Rebekah fell back onto the ground and looked up.
"Stop! Help! Help!" Rebekah yelled
"Let go of my bag! It's Dior and it's borrowed!" Caroline yelled
"Help!" Rebekah yelled
"Fire! FIRE! FIRE!" Caroline yelled
The bay door of the firehouse started to open. The teenage boy shoved Caroline, trying to get her to let go of the bag. Caroline held on and the strap snapped. Caroline grabbed onto the bag and fell forward as the teenage boy ran off. She fell onto the concrete hard. Rebekah got up and ran over to her.
"Caroline are you ok?"
Caroline looked up at her and then back at her back.
"I saved the bag"
The firemen came out and saw her lying on the ground.
"You alright miss?"
"This boy tried to steal her bag and she fought with him, he ran off but she fell in the process" Rebekah answered
"Let's see if you're ok miss"
The firemen helped Caroline up. She fell forward a bit as her hell had broke in the struggle. Rebekah held onto Caroline's bag as one of the firemen lifted her up and carried her into the house. They placed her on a chair and Rebekah stood close by.
"Are you alright Caroline? Oh you're bleeding"
"Where?" Caroline looked at her knee and saw it was bleeding
"Guess no short skirts for a while" Caroline said
Rebekah didn't say anything and then motioned towards her chin. Caroline lifted her hand up and touched her chin and saw blood.
"Oh my god I'm bleeding!" Caroline started to panick
The firemen ran into the other room to get the first aid kid.
"Two hot blondes near the truck!" one firemen whispered
Klaus looked up and smiled.
"Not like pretty boy over here needs any help" the other firemen said
Klaus stood up and walked towards them.
"Are we going to stare at them like animals in the zoo?" Klaus asked
"No, that's what the guys in manhattan do, we actually put out fires here"
Klaus laughed and followed them out.
Rebekah was trying to calm Caroline down.
"It'll be ok, you can cover it up with make up. It won't scar, you'll be fine" Rebekah said
"It's on my face, I'll be ugly!"
"It'll give you character!"
"Oh my god, I'm going to be ugly! I'm 22 and I have no boyfriend, no one will want me if I'm scarred like this! I'll be the crazy lady with all the cats! Blair will fire me cause I'm not pretty, and cause I borrowed the bag and broke it, and the shoes! They were Prada!"
"Just tell Blair I broke the bag and the shoes, Caroline please calm down!"
"Easy for you to say! You're the model!"
"Rebekah?"
Rebekah looked up and saw Nik standing there.
"Nik!" Rebekah jumped up into his arms and hugged him.
Nik spun her around and hugged her back.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to find you Nik!"
"It's so good to see you!"
"I've missed you"
"So, this your girlfriend pretty boy?" one of the firemen asked
Klaus put his sister down and then walked over to the group of firemen watching them.
"That's my sister! Back off!" Klaus yelled
The firemen scattered, walking off and mumbling something.
"It's the sister!"
"Sister, sister"
"ugh, really, she's the sister?"
The firemen disappeared into the other room.
"What was that?" Rebekah asked
"Unwritten law, you are in the do not touch box"
"Nik!"
"What?"
"Um excuse me, I'm kinda bleeding here" Caroline said
"Oh I'm sorry Caroline!" Rebekah rushed over
Klaus picked up the first aid kit off the ground and walked over to Caroline. He crouched down and looked at her knee and then at her chin. He opened the first aid kit and started cleaning her knee.
"Nothing but a scrape, you'll live" Klaus smiled
Caroline didn't say anything, she was too mesmerized by Klaus's strong, calloused hands holding her calf and gently cleaning her knee. He placed a bandage on it and smiled at her. He reached over and cleaned the blood off her chin. Caroline felt as if she were holding her breath as he inched closer to her. Most likely she was as she wasn't sure if her still had coffee breath or not. He placed a bandage on her chin and smiled.
"There, you're still beautiful" Klaus said as he was closing up the first aid kit
Caroline felt her cheeks flush pink and tried to calm herself down. Rebekah hit Klaus on the shoulder.
"Stop being an arse Nik! I just met her and I don't need you scaring her off!"
"What?"
"She came out here with me to help me find you. She works in fashion-"
"Is she a model?"
"She works at the fashion house that helped bring me to New York. Her boss is a little crazy and very obsessed about appearances"
"So what? She gets a scrape and she gets fired? Do you really want a job like that?" Klaus said sarcastically
"Not everyone can go climbing up into trees to save cats!" Caroline sneered back
"We don't rescue cats, they come down eventually, just put some food at the bottom of the tree" Klaus
"That's not the point Nik! You can be so infuriating at times" Rebekah said
"I missed you sis"
Caroline rolled her eyes and stood up, only to realize her heel was still missing and she lost balance and fell again. A pair of strong arms held her, pulling her up. Caroline saw that Klaus was holding her.
"You are just accident prone today" Klaus said
"It's your sister"
"She has that effect on people. Watch a cat's gonna scratch me today"
Caroline laughed, and Klaus smiled. He lifted Caroline into his arms. Caroline was surprised and placed her arms around his neck.
"Mikaelson! The city of New York is not paying you to flirt with every skirt that walks by! Where did you even find these two?"
Klaus turned and saw his captain standing there.
"Captain! My sister came to visit" Klaus said
"Sister? Which one?" the captain asked
"Me," Rebekah waved, "I'm Rebekah"
"So who's this one?" the captain asked
"I'm Caroline, I'm not his sister, I'm showing Rebekah around" Caroline said
"You got any more friends?" the captain asked Rebekah
Rebekah laughed.
"Yes, they're all models though"
The captain smiled.
"Good job Mikaelson!" the captain smiled and walked off
Caroline was being driven back to her apartment in the city. Klaus owned a black SUV and was driving them both back. He had gotten off work.
"Thanks for driving me back, you didn't have to" Caroline said
"You brought me my sister, it's the least I could do for you" Klaus smiled as he drove
Rebekah was busy scrolling through the pictures she had taken of her brother and was sending it to her other brother Elijah.
"Elijah will love this!" Rebekah squealed
"How is Elijah?" Klaus asked
"You know, he's partner, top firm, blah blah blah. He's dated around, but nothing since Tatia"
Klaus didn't say anything and Caroline could sense there was something going on, there was this tension when Elijah's name was mentioned. She wondered who Tatia was. Klaus drove to her apartment which she shared with Elena and Bonnie.
"You live here?" Klaus asked
"Yeah, I share it with my 2 best friends"
Suddenly there was a screech of tires and Elena jumped out of the car that she was in. Damon chased after her as she ran towards the apartment building. Stefan was already at the building and charged out. She was trapped. They seemed to be arguing. Caroline sighed.
"Not again!" Caroline sighed and got out of the car.
Klaus and Rebekah got out and watched the argument unfold.
"Shut up! Everyone is watching!" Caroline yelled
The three were quiet and Damon went back to his car. Elena chased after him, and so did Stefan. The three ended up driving away.
"What was that?" Rebekah asked
"That was one of my best friends Elena. She apparently can't choose between 2 brothers, so they're kinda getting wound up about it" Caroline answered
"Really? A girl between 2 brothers? Sounds familiar" Rebekah said looking at Klaus
"Wait in the car" Klaus said
Caroline turned around and smiled.
"Thanks for driving me back. Sorry about all that drama. Seems like everyone Elena meets falls in love with her or something. Don't get caught into it. It's already a triangle, you'd just make it a square"
"I don't really fancy brunettes, I seem to have a thing for blondes" Klaus smiled as he stepped closer to her
Caroline felt the heat in her cheeks and looked down at the flip flops she was wearing.
"Can I call you?" Klaus asked
"Um, yeah. Becca has it. Can I get yours?" Caroline asked her palms getting sweaty
"Yeah, it's the same everywhere, 911"
Caroline laughed at the cheesiness of it.
"You're such a dork!" Caroline pushed him slightly
"Apparently I don't fill the norm of suave British men"
"The accent helps, a lot"
"So I've heard"
"How are you a fireman in New York City of all places?"
"That's a story we should have, over drinks"
Klaus held her hand in his and kissed the back of it. He smirked and headed back to the car. Caroline watched as he walked, trying not to fan herself as it suddenly had gotten quite hot. Rebekah was yelling something at him as she got into the car. Caroline turned and went back to her apartment. She flopped onto the couch and sighed.
Caroline had torn through her closet looking for something to wear for drinks with Nik. She even went into Bonnie and Elena's closet and found nothing. She sighed and sat down. Why was she making a big deal out of this? It's not like she never had drinks with a guy before. But this wasn't just a guy. He was a fireman, and Caroline smiled. The image of Nik in bunker pants and suspenders flashed in her mind. He did look incredibly attractive in them. She looked in her closet again. She saw a pale pink Prada dress lying on the ground. She had gotten it from work since there was a stain on the skirt, she had it shortened to the mid thigh. The dress flared out at the waist. It was a halter dress with a giant bow that was tied on the side that kept the dress up. She put it on and realized it showed off the cookie monster band-aid on her knee. She sighed. She searched for some shoes before putting on some make up.
Bonnie walked in and saw a huge mess in the apartment.
"Hello?" Bonnie yelled out
Caroline came out, pulling out curlers out of her hair.
"Where we robbed?" Bonnie asked
"No! I'm getting ready" Caroline said as she pulled the last curler out of her hair
"For what? Isn't that dress a little short?" Bonnie asked
"Is it? Argh, I don't know what to wear!"
"No, it looks fine, just where are you going?"
"I'm having drinks with a guy"
"A guy? Please tell me it's not Tyler"
"It's so not Tyler, trust me"
"Then who?"
"This guy I met"
"Cmon, tell me more! Some guy that deserves a Prada dress? He must be special"
"He's a fireman"
"Oh my god! How? Where! Does he have friends?"
"He's the brother of one of the models"
"Then he must be hot"
"He is, and he's british"
"What? How do you find the good ones?"
"I almost got mugged, broke my Prada heel and got my knee and chin scraped up"
"Was it worth it?"
"Maybe"
Caroline got out of the cab, trying not to flash anyone and walked towards the bar. She was wearing Gucci heels this time, which weren't as tall as the Prada ones. She walked into the bar and looked around. She realized she was a bit over dressed for this bar. Everyone was wearing jeans and t shirts and here she was in a Prada dress. She realized then her dress was too short when most of the guys were staring at her. She walked towards the bar.
Nik walked into the bar, wearing dark jeans, and a grey henley shirt with a few buttons undone at the top. He wore a couple of necklaces and a black military style jacket. He noticed everyone was staring at the blonde in the pale pink dress at the bar.
"Pretty boy, check out the hot blonde at the bar" his friend Carl said walking next to him
Caroline ordered her drink and leaned over the bar a bit. She paid for her drink and looked around.
"Just a little more blondie, just a little more" Carl said as he watched her intently
"That one's mine" Nik said
"I saw her first" Carl whined
"She's here for me" Nik smiled as he walked towards her
Nik walked up to the bar and placed his hand on her waist. Caroline looked over and saw Nik smiling and looking incredibly sexy again. It seemed like Rebekah's family was just genetically blessed with hotness.
"Hi" Caroline smiled
"Hello sweetheart, would you like to sit somewhere?"
"Sure" Caroline picked up her drink and followed him
The other guys watching groaned inwardly as they realized that pretty boy as they called him, managed to get another girl. Caroline sat down in a booth with Nik across her. A waitress came by and place a drink infront of Nik and walked off. Caroline shot him a confused look.
"They know me here" Nik said
"Are you an alcoholic?"
"No, it's a firemen bar, so we come here to unwind"
The waitress came back and placed a drink in front of Caroline. It was a pink drink in a martini glass.
"I didn't order this" Caroline said
"Some guy at the bar did" the waitress answered and walked off
Caroline looked over at the bar, and saw a bunch of guys sitting there. Nik glared over at them.
"They're just messing with me" Nik said
"Why?"
"Cause they like to. And because you're the hottest girl in here right now"
"Really? I think I'm the only girl in here right now, aside from the waitress"
"That too. It picks up in an hour or so"
"So, are you going to tell me how you ended up a fireman in New York City?"
"Right to the point then? I like that"
"I figure if we get the awkward questions out of the way first, we can drink the rest of the night away"
"Not if you're drinking girly drinks"
"And what are you drinking?"
"Whiskey"
"Ugh, I don't know why guys like to drink that stuff"
"It's an acquired taste, love"
"So are you going to tell me a story or not?"
"Alright, but it's not very interesting. I came here a few years ago. My father cut me off while I was still in university. I worked in some local pubs for a while, saved up enough money and came here. I worked some pretty crappy jobs here, then one of the guys I was working with told me about taking the test. I did, and here I am"
Caroline wondered why his father cut him off. She didn't want to pry so so left it alone.
"Just like that? You became a fireman?" Caroline asked
"Well, they did make me work for it. The written test was ok, but then there's the physical test. And they made me shave my head"
"Really?"
"Yeah"
"i can't imagine you bald"
"it wasn't pretty that's for sure"
They both laughed and Caroline took a sip of her drink.
"What about you? How did you end up working in fashion with my sister?"
"Your sister's a model, I'm not"
"Why not? You're obviously beautiful"
"It takes more than just a pretty face to be a model."
"You should tell Rebekah that"
"Are you two always like this?"
"Like what?"
"I'm an only child, so I don't know what it's like to have a brother or sister"
"You're lucky, you don't have to fight for your parent's attention. You don't have to share with your siblings, you don't have to watch after the youngest to make sure she doesn't do something stupid like eat crayons or stab a fork into the outlet"
"Yeah but it was pretty lonely growing up. Besides my parents weren't around enough for me to fight for their attention"
"Trying fighting with 3 brothers and a sister"
"That many?"
"Yeah, Rebekah's the youngest"
"I can see that, you get all protective around her"
"It's just my nature"
"Are you the oldest?"
"No, I have 2 older brothers. Elijah and Finn"
"Rebekah mentioned him"
"Yes, he's the responsible one. No one's heard from Finn in years. He ran off with some girl and never looked back"
"That's kinda harsh"
"Let's just say home life wasn't the greatest for him. I don't blame him. I hope he's happy wherever he is"
Caroline was counting in her head mentally of his siblings.
"So are you the middle child?" Caroline asked
"Sorta. Kol is my younger brother. He's somewhere in boarding school still"
"Boarding school? Is that British thing?"
"Not exactly. My parents sent us away after grade school. Thought it would be good for us. It made us stronger, but we resented our parents in a way"
"But you turned out ok"
"Somewhat. We survived it with each other"
"Rebekah said she hadn't seen you since grade school"
"My parents sent me away early for some reason, I think it's because I was too much of a bad influence over Rebekah."
"Really? You don't say?"
"Enough about me"
"But you're so British and interesting"
"Really? Because I'm British I'm interesting"
"Could be the accent"
"it does help"
"What do you want to know?"
"How did you end up here in New York?"
"I'm from a small town in Virginia, it's the middle of nowhere, and nothing happens there. I came to school here in New York. I graduated and ended up staying"
"Just like that?"
"Well, there were a few other factors. My 2 best friends are here, we share an apartment, you saw one of them earlier, Elena, the brunette with the 2 guys chasing after her."
"Oh yes, I remember that"
"Yeah, well I live with them now. She works in publishing, and my other friend Bonnie is getting her masters in chemistry. They're really great, they helped me when..." Caroline stopped herself.
Nik waited for her to finish. She looked down at her drink. She really didn't want to think about Tyler.
"Something wrong?" Nik asked
"No, nothing. My boyfriend of 3 years dumped me recently. It was another reason to stay here. I didn't want to go home and be the girl that didn't make it. The one who went to the big city and came home with her tail between her legs"
"He's a stupid loser for ever letting you"
Caroline looked up at him.
"He has to be incredibly stupid to let you go. Maybe he likes ugly women"
Caroline laughed.
"You have every guy in this bar looking at you"
"That's because I'm the only girl here"
"No, it's because you are beautiful, and they're all waiting for me to get up and go to the loo so they can swarm around you"
Caroline laughed again. Nik reached over and held onto her hand.
"It's the truth. You are beautiful, and strong and if you can put up with Rebekah you deserve a monument or holiday"
"She's not that bad"
"You've known her a few days, I've known her all her life. Don't come crying to me sweetheart"
"I don't cry easily"
"Don't tell her that, she'll see it as a challenge"
A few more drinks later, Caroline was feeling happily drunk. Nik just watched her.
"So what's Nik short for?" Caroline asked as she played with the rim of her glass
"Niklaus"
"That's a strange name"
"It's rather old. My mother wanted a different kind of name"
"Why do they all call you pretty boy?"
"It's a nickname. We all have one. They give us one when we're probies"
Caroline giggled.
"No, not what you're thinking, sweetheart"
"What am I thinking?"
"It's not what you think, probies are what we call the new firemen that come into the house. They're on probation for the first year, they don't know what they're doing so the others have to guide them along"
"Oh my god it's like a frat house! Is there hazing?"
"NO!"
"It's ok, you can tell me"
"We don't haze. We bust each other's balls and crack jokes but we don't haze"
"Ok, if you say so"
"Really we don't"
"I'm not saying anything, I'm not judging."
"You are so judging"
"Ok, maybe a little bit. But it's not like I get to talk to a fireman every day"
"You could"
Caroline felt her cheeks flush pink. She pulled back and finished her drink. The waitress came over and dropped off another drink. It was another pink drink.
"Who keeps buying me drinks? And why are they always pink?" Caroline asked
Nik laughed to himself and looked around. Caroline furrowed her brows together and looked around. She reached over and took Nik's drink and gulped it down.
"Ugh, that was gross" Caroline said
"You're suppose to sip it, not slam it"
"You were nursing that drink all night, pretty boy"
Nik motioned to the bartender for another drink, while Caroline watched. She smiled as she felt the alcohol take more of an effect on her. The waitress dropped off his drink and Caroline smiled.
"How far gone are you?" Nik asked
"Not that gone. I can handle my liquor"
"Alright sweetheart"
"Why did you become a fireman?"
"I already told you that love"
"You told me how, but not why"
"Some boys dream of being firemen when they grow up. Most of them grow up and have boring jobs in an office somewhere."
"And you just never grew up?"
"Something like that. I don't do what everyone expects of me"
"Neither do I, maybe that's why we get along so well"
"Do we now?"
"Yeah, you haven't left and I haven't run off crying yet. I take it as a good sign"
"It would be wrong to leave a lady this early in the evening"
"Are you always this gentlemanly or do they teach you that in fireman school?"
Nik chuckled to himself. Caroline was amusing and funny when she was drunk, and even more insightful.
"How are you single?" Nik asked
"I could ask the same for you. You're british, you're a fireman, and you have all your teeth"
"I didn't realize my teeth were that important"
"Well you know what they say about British people and teeth"
"What?"
"Nevermind!"
Caroline's cell phone started ringing. She took it out of her bag and saw that it wa her mom. She groaned.
"It's my mom, ugh" Caroline said
"Oh cmon, you should talk to your dear old mom"
"You can talk to her then"
"Fine" Nik grabbed the phone from her and answered it
"give it back!" Caroline yelled
"Hello, Caroline's phone, me? I'm Nik. Caroline's here, she's just a bit sloshed. No, no no, I just met your daughter. We're having a few drinks that's all. No, you can't call it a date. For it to be a date there should be some food involved don't you agree? Of course I can cook, I'm a fireman, I'd have 12 angry guys at me in the firehouse. Oh, ok. She wants to talk to you" Nik handed the phone back to her
Caroline groaned and took the phone.
"Hi mom. No, I just had a few drinks. Yes, he's British. He's the sister of one of the models at work. Mom! No! I'll call you back! Bye!"
Nik watched her in amusement.
"Don't do that to me! Now she's all you should go out and meet people, date again, blah blah blah. Ugh!"
"Your mom's sweet, she cares about you. I haven't spoken to my mother in years"
"That long? Don't you miss her?"
"Sometimes, but I try not to think about it"
"What happened?"
"I don't know. Everything was ok, and then it changed. I don't know what I did, but she turned her back on me."
Caroline reached out and held onto his hand.
"That just sucks. While we're on sucky parents, my dad left my mom for another guy"
"Ouch"
"Yeah, he left and never looked back. I get a letter or something from him once in a blue moon. My mom's a workaholic, keeps her busy so she doesn't have to think about her failed marriage"
"This has gotten depressing. let's not be depressed drunks then. Let's get out of here"
"Ok, I'm hungry"
"Food is good, does that make this a date then?"
"You never really asked me out on a date, just drinks"
"So this is a practice date then?"
"Call it half a date then"
"Alright, let's go get you some food" Nik got out of the booth and held his hand out to her
Caroline picked up her bag and took his hand and walked out with him. She could feel the eyes on her as she walked out. Nik put his hand on the small of her back as they walked out. The cool air hit her skin and she shivered. She felt Nik place his jacket around her shoulders and looked over at him.
"Thanks" Caroline said
Nik pulled the jacket to cover her. She slipped her arms through the jacket and was immediately overwhelmed by his scent. It surrounded her. She closed her eyes.
"Hey, you alright?" Nik asked as he cupped her face with his hands lifting her face up
"Yeah, just hungry"
"Don't pass out on me"
"I won't"
Nik held onto Caroline's hand as they walked a few blocks. They stopped in front of a bright yellow and red sign, HOT DOGS lit up.
"Seriously?" Caroline said
"What? Are you too good for this?" Nik asked
"No, this is the best stuff to eat after drinking!"
Caroline walked in and ordered her hot dog with everything on it. Nik walked in after her and watched her.
"i'm not sharing with you" Caroline said
"Obviously" Nik answered
They stood by the other country and ate their hot dogs and laughed. Caroline was surprised at how laid back Nik was. Nothing seemed to phase him.
"I remember coming here when I was in college. We'd drink cheap beer and come here afterwards. I miss those days" Caroline said
"I wonder if Rebekah would ever eat these"
"You should bring her here. She'd love it"
"We're talking about the same Rebekah right?"
Caroline rolled her eyes. She finished her hot dog and washed it down with a papaya juice. She looked over Nik's shoulder when she heard a familiar voice. It was Tyler, he was drunk, with his arm around a girl. Caroline looked away and tried to hide. Nik picked up on her sudden change and looked back at Tyler who was ordering hot dogs. He looked back at Caroline.
"Is that your ex?" Nik whispered to her
"Talk about awkward"
Nik pulled her into his arms and held her close. She buried her face in his chest. She inhaled his masculine scent again and relaxed against him. She wrapped her arms around him and felt safe. She heard the sound of someone vomiting and lifted her head to look. The girl that Tyler was with was throwing up on the floor.
"Not cool babe" Tyler said as he bit into his hot dog
Caroline buried her face into Nik's chest again.
"Let's get out of here" Nik whispered
Caroline nodded. Nik pulled away from her. He put his hand around her waist and then bent down slightly and placed his other arm under her knees. He lifted her up into his arms before she could say anything. The workers were trying to clean up the vomit and help the girl stand in the corner while Tyler was still eating. Nik carried Caroline out, while trying to avoid the vomit on the floor. Nik carried her down the block.
"You can put me down"
"Why would I do that?"
"I can walk"
"I can carry you"
"Don't firemen carry people the other way"
"We don't really carry people out, we drag them out"
"Way to ruin every girl's fantasy!"
"Would you want to be carried out of a burning building while your head is in smoke?"
"That depends, are you carrying me out?"
Nik put her down and took a step back. He quickly grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder. Caroline screamed.
"Oh my god! Put me down!"
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"I'm not giving everyone a free show! Put me down!"
The wind picked up and blew her skirt up. Caroline screamed. Nik looked up and saw her skirt fly up. He reached to pull her skirt down.
"Put me down! I don't want the world to see my ass!"
Nik laughed and put her down. Caroline immediately pulled her dress down to make sure she was covered.
"I knew I've seen that ass before!" Tyler yelled from behind them
Caroline was mortified that she had flashed Tyler. A drunk Tyler, who apparently abandoned the girl throwing up on the floor. Caroline hid behind Nik, hoping she could disappear.
"Show the girl some respect!" Nik yelled out
"Yeah right, her ass is hanging out. And what an ass it is!" Tyler yelled out
"Watch your mouth" Nik yelled
"That ass is amazing! I know, I've tapped that" Tyler said as he started to make thrusting motions
Caroline stood there watching Tyler thrust into the air. Nik stood there not sure what to do. Tyler was clearly drunk but making an ass of himself.
"Are you hitting that now? Then you know how amazing that ass is!" Tyler yelled as he started humping the lamp post
"Oh my god" Caroline said in shock
"It's an amazing ass, like spiderman!" Tyler said as he started to hump the ground
"And you dated this guy?" Nik asked
"Shush!" Caroline quickly took her phone out and started taking video of Tyler humping the ground
Caroline laughed and put her phone away. She grabbed onto Nik's hand and led him away while Tyler was still humping the ground. They walked a few blocks.
"I was right, that guy is an ass" Nik said
"Yeah he is, I guess I am better without him"
"You are"
Nik leaned in and quickly kissed her on the lips for a second before pulling away.
"Sorry, I shouldn't-"
Caroline didn't let him finish, she pulled him down and kissed him back. His lips devoured hers as her arms reached around his neck. Nik's hands rested on her waist as he pulled her closer to his body. She felt his hand start to move but stop. She reached down to his hand, she placed her hand ontop of his and guided it down to the curve of ass. His hand gave it a gentle squeeze. She felt a smile on his lips.
"He was right, it is an amazing ass" Nik said
Caroline's hand slid down his back, and grabbed his ass. Nik raised an eyebrow at her.
"You're not so bad yourself"
"Let's get out of here"
AN: hope you were amused. It's Grey's Papaya in nyc, open 24/7. and yes it's great when you're drunk or hungover.