When You Least Expect It:
Leave the Engine Running
Klaus works as a valet at the White Oak, a fancy hotel and restaurant, in New Orleans where he's lived pretty much his whole life. Every summer, like clockwork, Caroline, one of the most beautiful girls he's ever laid eyes on, comes down to vacation with her family in their house on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain. After some cajoling from his annoying younger brother, also a valet at WO, Klaus might actually summon up the courage to make a move.
(Written by: a-little-blonde-distraction)
"Bloody hell, Kol! You're a valet, not Mario Andretti!" Klaus growled as he stepped out of the Corvette and carefully but purposefully closed the sleek black door.
"Oh, come on, I was just having a bit of fun!" Kol replied, his voice whining as if to beg his older brother not to spoil his fun. "Besides, it's a Stingray, Nik! They haven't even come out yet!"
"I know you think you're living out your Ferris Bueller fantasy where you get to take the nice car out for a spin with no repercussions," Klaus started as he and Kol made their way back to the main entrance, "but let me clue you in: those guys didn't get in trouble because they were taking the car from teenagers that weren't supposed to have it in the first place. If Mr. Money-Bags knows that you're taking his 'not even out yet' pride and joy for a spin, you're not only going to get fired, but you won't be able to work as a valet in the whole of New Orleans, much less the French Quarter." Kol rolled his eyes but by the way he sighed, Klaus knew he'd gotten through to his kid brother.
"Whatever," Kol muttered, but an impish grin returned to his face and he waggled his eyebrows at Klaus, "I guess I'll just find a sweet ride less on the automotive side and more on the feminine side."
"You wanker," Klaus chuckled, shoving his brother playfully. "I hope you're wrapping it up, you man whore."
"Of course I am!" Kol replied quickly, placing a hand over his chest and reacting overdramatically like he was overly offended. "Can't be too careful with the richie riches, now can we?" Klaus merely chuckled and rolled his eyes.
"No, I supposed you can't...wait, whatever happened to that one girl? Your fangirl? Maria? Marissa?"
"Who? Scary Mary?" Kol replied, then scoffed. "Right, I kicked her to the curb ages ago...a little too clingy for my tastes. Thank god she went back to university though, I don't think I could've avoided her for much longer."
"Yeah well we're still a little off season, so you might have slimmer pickings, mate," Klaus said pensively as he looked around the empty entrance to The White Oak. Since it was off season, there weren't many people in town, either staying at the hotel or coming to eat at the restaurant or drink at the bar; i.e. not many cars to park.
"The seasons are changing, though, dearest brother," Kol said. "Who knows who'll show up. Maybe even your tasty little Barbie doll might decide to come down for vacation earlier this year."
"Say another word and I'll tear out your liver," Klaus half growled and half murmured. Kol grinned cheekily at him and waved his hand at him dismissively before turning to walk inside.
"As you wish, I'm off to the loo," Kol said.
"More than ten minutes, and you'll have a grace period as I decide whether you're drowning yourself or stuffing your face and come to find you, brother." Klaus said warningly. Kol spun to face Klaus but kept walking backwards into the hotel as he brought his hand up to his forehead in a mock salute.
"Yes, sir, Mr. Head Valet, sir!" Kol said, jokingly conveying the strict military etiquette he felt from his older brother. If he'd been closer, Klaus would've smacked him, but Kol turned back around and kept walking. Klaus sighed and turned back to the valet station and made the proper notations about the Corvette in the book and as he put the book back, he spotted the familiar blue Ford Escape approaching.
"What are you doing here?" Klaus thought to himself. "It's off season, you shouldn't be here right now." However confused he was, seeing the blue car put a smile on Klaus's face. The car slowed to a stop in front of the valet station and Klaus's smile grew even wider as the blonde with the 1000 watt smile put the car into park.
"Well well well, look what the wind blew in," Klaus said as he opened her driver side door for her. His heart soaring as he heard her laugh at his greeting and as he saw her roll her eyes; somehow, it was in a more delightful way than when his brother rolled his eyes. He offered her his hand, as he always did.
"Nice to see you too, Klaus," Caroline replied, taking his hand without a second thought, even though her car wasn't so high up, nor did she need the help getting down. The knowledge of that fact made her taking his hand each time he offered mean so much more to Klaus. He opened up his mouth to say something else sarcastic in the hopes of making her laugh again, but he caught himself as two other people emerged from the car. He hadn't even noticed she had people with her he had been so focused on Caroline; but they weren't her mother and father, as he would've expected. Instead, she was accompanied by two girls that looked her age, one brunette with fair skin and long pin straight hair, and one with caramel colored skin and dark brown hair.
"Oh, you brought a party, did you?" he said lightly, not wanting to be rude to her guests but not wanting to take his attention off of her.
"Just my gal pals," Caroline said, motioning to the girls that were exiting the car and coming around to meet their friend. "This is Elena and Bonnie," she said, gesturing to each respective girl, "Bonnie, Elena, this is Klaus." Each girl murmured greetings to Klaus and sized him up (growing up with a younger sister, he became familiar with this ritual) and he nodded and smiled at each.
"Pleasure to meet you both. Are you ladies here for dinner or drinks?"
"Both, if we can help it!" Elena replied and the girls chuckled.
"We're on our beach week," Bonnie added to clarify and Klaus nodded.
"Lovely," he murmured politely and Caroline jumped in.
"Yeah, Bonnie's graduating from Whitmore College, right outside of our hometown in Virginia and Elena's graduating from University of Richmond."
"Well, congratulations to you both," Klaus said, then turned back to Caroline with a smile, "and I'm assuming that means that you're done at UVA as well?" She smiled and nodded at him.
"Yep, I'm all through, thank God," she replied, gazing back at him and the two shared a comfortable silence looking at each other until Elena and Bonnie's giggling brought them out of it. But before Klaus could say anything else, he heard the voice call from behind him.
"Klaus, guess what the chef's making tonight! You'll never guess-" Kol called, walking down from the entrance, but his words were halted as he took in the scene in front of him. "Hel-lo la-dies!" he said, enunciating each syllable and the girls giggled and Caroline scoffed with a smile and rolled her eyes.
"Hey Kol. Elena, Bonnie, this is Kol. Kol, Bonnie and Elena," she said, not bothering to be formal with her introductions. Klaus inwardly groaned, disbelieving his brother's impeccable timing.
"Lovely, now that you've all met, Kol, do you mind moving Caroline's car? I'm going to escort these ladies to the bar, thank you!" Klaus said, not waiting for a response before pushing his brother towards the car and gently steering the girls towards the entrance. Caroline walked a little faster, apparently catching onto Klaus's urgency and her friends fell into step behind her.
"Nicely played," Caroline remarked to Klaus and he chuckled.
"I'm sorry; Kol's harmless, he's just...Kol," he said, lacking a better word to describe his brother. Caroline's friends chuckled as Caroline laughed and rolled her eyes.
"That he is," she said and her friend Bonnie suddenly increased her strides in order to walk beside Klaus and Caroline.
"He seems kinda cute, kinda boyish ladies' man type if you ask me," she chimed in and both Klaus and Caroline laughed.
"Yeah, ladies' man, that's exactly what he fancies himself," Klaus said, rolling his eyes.
"I just hope he doesn't leave little strips of paper with his phone number in the little crevices of my car again. I seriously think I finally got rid of all of them. I've been finding them for months since my last visit," Caroline added and Elena and Bonnie chuckled at hearing about Kol's overzealous attempt at flirting.
"Trust me, he knows to behave, because he knows the wrath he'll face at home is worse than getting reprimanded at work, or from even getting fired," Klaus said assuredly. When he saw the confused looks on Caroline's friends' faces, he added, "He's my brother." Both girls reacted as if they were less confused and even Bonnie checked in.
"Oh, okay, I thought there was some family resemblance there," the girl nodded.
"Not much, thank God for him," Klaus said jokingly as they ascended the stairs.
"Please, he'd be lucky to have those curls and dimples," Caroline insisted and Klaus chuckled and blushed.
"Yeah, well, they're both a blessing and a curse," he said, then turned, gazing at her appreciatively, "but thank you." Caroline gazed back at him, and they only broke away from each other's eyes when Elena cleared her throat. They looked up and realized they were only a few steps away from the entrance to the restaurant.
"Well," Klaus started, sad to be parting from Caroline already, "I hope you ladies enjoy your evening." He couldn't help himself and he reached over and gently touched Caroline's forearm as he added, "I think Stefan's behind the bar tonight, he will let me know when to bring your car back around, love." Caroline gazed at him softly, a graceful and lovely smile slowly spreading on her face.
"Thank you, Klaus."
"My pleasure, Caroline," he smiled, then begrudgingly removed his hand and stepped back. He nodded at Bonnie and Elena with a smile then turned to leave, wishing he didn't have to go. He turned back only once, stopping at the top of the stairs to look back, and saw waiters holding the girls' chairs and helping them into their seats.
Caroline's back was to him, but he watched her golden curls gently swirl as she turned to her right to thank the waiter before turning back to the menu in front of her. He smiled to himself, just happy that she was here, and walked back down the stairs to the valet station. He was barely out the doors when Kol jumped him.
"You dog! You call me a wanker, but you pawn off parking Barbie's car so that you can escort her inside?! And before I even get a chance to get acquainted with one of her lady friends?!" Kol half whined, half chastised. "Nik, I'm your brother; you should be my wingman, not a cockblocker."
"First of all," Klaus started, pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling a migraine coming on already (one of Kol's super powers), "I'm your superior, and you're testing my patience with that tone, Kol." Kol held up his hands defensively as Klaus continued. "Second of all, her name is Caroline and she is a guest of the hotel; but even if she weren't, I'd still be telling you to treat her with respect."
"Yeah yeah yeah, respect for women, blah blah blah," Kol said dismissively, crossing and clapping his brother on the shoulder, his arm draping across his back. "So did you ask for her number yet?"
"I'm not getting her number for you, Kol," Klaus growled, removing his hand from his shoulder and crossing to the valet station.
"Not for me, you tosser!" Kol exclaimed, following Klaus. "For you, you big idiot! I know she's as hard up for you as you are for her."
"Please, Kol," Klaus scoffed, "like a girl like that would ever go for a 'tosser' like me."
"You don't know until you ask," Kol suddenly said sensibly, "and if you don't ask, that's what really makes you the tosser."
"Oh my god, he really couldn't take his eyes off of you!" Elena gushed as her blonde friend kept her face buried in her menu.
"Please, Elena," Caroline scoffed, "Klaus is just nice and friendly to everyone."
"And walks everyone inside to the restaurant?" Bonnie quipped and she and Elena soon saw the hint of pink on Caroline's cheeks just over the top of the menu.
"Well...I mean he knows me, and he was meeting you guys, and so he was just being..."
"Nice and friendly?" Elena and Bonnie asked in unison. Caroline glanced up at them before looking down at her menu quickly again.
"Whatever, you guys are nuts. Klaus doesn't like me like that."
"You're right," Elena started, casting her eyes down at her menu and keeping her tone casual, "why would the dimpled hottie with the panty melting accent like someone as beautiful and smart and kind as you."
"And his brother isn't too shabby either," Bonnie remarked, glancing at the drink menu. "Those are some good family genes if you ask me."
"Oh my god!" Caroline squealed, "I can't with either of you, right now. Klaus doesn't like me like that, and even if he did, I can't even begin to think about how I'd handle that because it's so hard to believe." She turned to Bonnie and added, "And if you want Kol, you can have him! And Godspeed to you on that endeavor."
"Oh come on, Care, he really can't be all that bad!" Bonnie exclaimed, "He's so cute, and so is Klaus. Mark my words, you're going to see, you're wrong."
"I agree with the clairvoyant," Elena nodded, "you're wrong and it's only a matter of time before you see what we see, Care."
"I'm not nearly drunk enough for this," Caroline muttered and as if she'd conjured him, their waiter appeared. Before he could even start, she said, "Tell Stefan we'll take three Pink Musketeers, and a basket of your brioche, please. Thank you." The waiter nodded and jotted down on his pad before leaving, and Elena and Bonnie gazed at Caroline, knowingly and amusedly.
"So, come here often?" Elena asked, and with that, the tension was broken and all three girls devolved into a fit of giggles.
"Mmm, Jennifer Lawrence...I wouldn't mind Katniss tending to my wounds, if you know what I mean," Kol said, flipping through an old Esquire magazine and gazing at the pictures.
"Kol, adding 'if you know what I mean' doesn't automatically make whatever precedes it a sexual innuendo."
"Of course it does! Just like adding 'in bed' to the end of your fortune of your fortune cookie!" Kol insisted. Klaus was ready to quash that sentiment as well but then his phone trilled and he quickly snatched it out of the pocket of his vest.
"Text from your boyfriend?" Kol asked, peering up from his magazine.
"Grow up, Kol."
"I will, once I see Stefan kiss a girl. Then I will know for sure that you two aren't bedfellows."
"You're such an ass."
"It's one of my more charming qualities."
Klaus rolled his eyes and glanced at the text again one last time.
They just finished their last round and Adrian's bringing them their check.
He opened a text message and quickly typed a message back as he walked to the station to get Caroline's key.
Thanks mate. I'll go bring her car around.
He slipped his phone back into his vest pocket and reached into the cabinet to retrieve the key to Caroline's Ford Escape, but frowned when he saw the slot that should be holding it empty.
"Looking for this?" he heard and when he turned, Kol was still sitting casually with the magazine in his one hand and holding up Caroline's key with the other.
"Give it here, Kol. I have to go and get Caroline's car," Klaus said firmly, crossing to grab the key, but Kol snatched it away, still not looking up from his magazine.
"Ask for Caroline's phone number and I will," Kol said simply.
"What?!" Klaus exclaimed. "Kol don't be an ass, give me the damn key."
"Good lord, Nik, it's not like I'm asking you to get the Krabby Patty Secret Formula!" Kol said exasperatedly, as if he were talking to a child. "All you have to do is say, 'Caroline, may I have your phone number?' and trust me, your accent will do half the work for you."
"My relationship with Caroline is none of your business, Kol," Klaus growled before raising his voice and holding out his hand. "Now give me the damn key!"
"Listen to yourself," Kol continued, still not bothering to look up from his magazine, "your 'relationship with Caroline'...stop kidding yourself, Niklaus: you're her valet and you're going to remain her valet unless you do something about it. And that starts with getting her phone number." Kol finished his speech and held up the key again before adding, "So? Do we have a deal?"
Klaus gazed at his brother and then at the key, letting Kol's words turn over in his head. He hated to admit it, but Kol was right, and he was wary to let Kol know of that. Even though he said they had a relationship, they really didn't. Caroline was only ever in New Orleans during her time off from school when the hotel was in season, and they only had the briefest of casual moments together that were never enough for Klaus. He could never have enough of her; she was like sunlight that warmed his skin and lifted his spirits.
But she was done with school now; sure she'd have to go back for graduation, but she'd no doubt return for the summer, and then who knows? Maybe she'd find some job here in New Orleans, and he could see more of her. Maybe Kol had unwittingly picked the right moment to cajole him into getting Caroline's digits. But again, he'd never let Kol know that.
"You're such a child," he muttered as he finally snatched the key out of Kol's outstretched hand and huffed away to where Caroline's car was parked.
"Another of my more charming qualities," Kol replied, his gaze still fixated on the actress on the magazine pages. Klaus got into Caroline's car and sat for a moment. It smelled of perfume and sunscreen, but it majorly smelled like her: the loveliest combination of fruits, florals, and musk. It made him smile immediately and he had his resolve.
He would ask Caroline for her phone number. He would ask her for her phone number and she would give it to him and they would go on a date and everything would be amazing. He took another deep breath of her scent in as he turned the key in the ignition and slowly brought the car around to the front.
Once he'd put the car in park, he left the engine running and exited the car, leaving the door open behind him. Just when he came around the back of the Ford, he smiled as he saw the three girls approaching the hotel doors. Caroline looked up and caught his eye and he smiled even wider, and as she came closer, a flurry of images filled his mind. He saw them walking along the bay hand in hand and playing mini golf and picnicking under the stars as he steals a kiss, caressing her skin gently as her fingers bury themselves in his hair.
Yes, he'd do it; he'd ask her for her phone number and he'd get to know her and be with her and he wouldn't just be a casual acquaintance, some guy that parks her car at one of her favorite restaurant.
"How was dinner? I hope Stefan's cocktails were good tonight," Klaus said amicably once they were closer.
"They were so yummy," Elena gushed then began to giggle hysterically, "almost as yummy as he was...he is a HOT-TIE with a capital HOOOOT." Caroline glanced at Klaus and was relieved that he was chuckling at her tipsy friend's alcohol induced frankness.
"I'll be sure to tell him you think so," he chuckled as Bonnie led Elena to her side of the car, electing to have her slide in from her side versus stumbling around to the other side.
"Please do! If he wants my number, it's 4-3-4-3-5-3-6..."
"Yeah, how about you call the restaurant tomorrow to get his number, hmm? How about that? Okay? Okay good," Bonnie cut Elena off, both to stop her from embarrassing herself and to get her in the car faster, as she ushered her friend into the car, closing the door behind both of them.
"Well they seem like a barrel of fun," Klaus chuckled and Caroline laughed and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, well I can't complain, Elena's pretty up front with all her drama. Bonnie's is a little more manageable, but boy you should see her when she's plastered. At my Sweet 16, she was so far gone, she got in a fight with a girl at our school and was 'casting a spell on her.'"
The two chuckled as they came around to her driver door. Klaus's hand went to her door handle to close the door behind her, but he caught a glimpse of Kol out of the corner of his eye. He was standing on the other side of the car and Klaus could see him gesturing as if he were dialing on a phone and placing his imaginary phone to his ear and pointing at Caroline simultaneously. He looked away from his obnoxious younger brother and took a deep breath.
"Okay, here goes nothing!" he thought to himself.
"Well," Caroline found herself fidgeting as she gazed up into Klaus's blue green eyes, not wanting to say goodnight. "It was nice to see you again, Klaus..." She turned to climb into the driver's seat, but his voice stopped her.
"Actually, Caroline," he said, and she turned to look at him and he gazed into her eyes. He suddenly seemed much more at ease as he put his hand over the top of her car door and casually leaned against it. "I was hoping I could get your phone number...and that I could take you out sometime, if you're in town and not too busy." Caroline froze as she gazed back at Klaus.
"Goddammit," she thought to herself. "Goddammit! They were right! He likes me! Jesus Christ, he likes me and they were right and they're right there in the car probably listening and oh dear God, I can't... Sweet Jesus, look at his face. Oh God, those eyes, and that smile. I can't..."
"Uhh...uh..." was all Caroline could manage out and Klaus gazed back into her eyes expectantly. She saw a small dimpled smiled playing on the corners of his lips and it made her stomach do flip flops, but she found herself smiling. Everything he said and did made her body react that way: remembering she goes to UVA, walking them inside, having Stefan let him know when to bring the car around. Thinking about all of their previous interactions and gazing back at him now made it really easy for Caroline to answer him.
"Sure. I mean yes, of course. I'd like that very much."
They smiled at each other for a few moments before she cleared her voice and she casually reached over and took the pen that was in his left front breast pocket and took his hand and with a click of the pen, scribbled her phone number on the palm of his hand. She was sure he could hear her heart thumping in her chest, and she got a tiny thrill out of her ballsy move, taking his pen and lightly grazing his vest with her fingers as she did and holding his hand in hers as she inked his skin with her phone number. She took a short breath of air and blew gently on his hand to make sure the ink was dry and wouldn't smudge then clicked the pen and placed it back in his vest pocket.
She looked up at him and saw him gazing amazedly at his palm and she smiled and finally cleared his throat to get his attention again.
"Uh, great! I'll, uh, give you a ring, I mean a call...or I can text you, whichever you prefer," he said, stumbling over his words, his easy confidence gone again, but Caroline found his honest nervousness just as attractive as his smooth talking.
"Either is fine. Feel free to text me or call me anytime," she said lightly, smiling as his smile grew, "I'm in town until Thursday and then I'll be back on Tuesday for the summer."
"Fantastic. Maybe we can catch up before you leave?" he suggested and she nodded and smiled.
"Sure! I'll let you know what we're doing and we can try and work something out," she said gesturing to her friends back in the car and he nodded understandingly. "Great," she added then awkwardly turned to get in the car but quickly back to him, "so, goodnight then."
"Goodnight, Caroline," he said, waiting until she was in the car to close the door behind her securely. They smiled at each other through the window and he gave her a small wave goodbye, his palm displaying his new temporary tattoo and she smiled even wider, knowing that soon, he'd be texting her or calling her, and she'd get to see him again. She smiled and gave him a little wave too, then took off, peeling out of the parking lot.
"WHAT DID HE SAY?! WHAT DID KLAUS SAY TO YOU?! DID HE ASK YOU OUT?! DID YOU GET HIS PHONE NUMBER?! WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Elena started shrieking from the back seat.
"Calm down, Elena, dear God..." Bonnie groaned.
"I can't, I can't comment just yet, oh my God, I can't," Caroline said, gripping the steering wheel and staring straight ahead, her stomach in knots and her heart racing.
"Wait, seriously, did he seriously give you his number?" Bonnie asked, realizing that Caroline was legitimately reacting to something and that Elena might not be too far off.
"No..." Caroline said cryptically.
"DID YOU GIVE HIM YOURS?! OH MY GOD, I HOPE YOU GAVE HIM YOURS THEN!" Elena shrieked.
"Caroline?" Bonnie asked softly, and she was met with silence until Caroline finally burst.
"Okay, I gave him my number!" Both of her friends in the backseat started squealing shrilly and Caroline was grateful for the empty road as her friends' screaming caused her to let go of the wheel for a moment to cover her ears.
"You're welcome," Kol said, as Klaus walked back to the valet station.
"Shut up," Klaus muttered, reaching into his pocket to retrieve his cell phone and put Caroline's number in it before he sweated it off his palm. A shiver ran down his spine as he remembered her holding his hand gently then her cool breath drying the ink. Every synapse was firing in that moment, and even though it was the most innocent of caresses, it felt so unbelievably intimate.
He couldn't wait to see her again, and once the contact was saved in his phone, the text was open. Suddenly his phone was out of his hands though, and he looked up swore he'd strangle him with his bare hands.
"KOL! Give me my phone back, RIGHT NOW!" he bellowed and began wrestling Kol in a vain attempt to get his phone back.
"My my my, a new text open and addressed to Caroline, what a surprise," Kol said, fending off Klaus while he looked at the phone, "oh wait; it isn't a surprise."
"GIVE ME MY PHONE, KOL!" Klaus yelled, not caring that he was making a scene outside of his job, which was pretty much deserted, as he continued to wrestle his younger brother.
"Dearest brother, you need to play it cool if you want to reel in the big fish! You can't text her 40 seconds after she's given you her phone number! You have to wait 24 hours at least!"
"KOL, I SWEAR I WILL SET YOU ON FIRE IF YOU DO NOT HAND OVER MY PHONE RIGHT NOW!"
"Fine! Touchy!" Kol said, finally relinquishing the phone, which Klaus snatched away before promptly hitting Kol on the back of the head. "OW!" Kol yelped before shoving his brother away. "You know what!? I don't have to take this! If you want to look like some bloody lovesick fool, then go ahead! Text her! I dare you!" Kol huffed away, grabbing his magazine and continuing for the doors. "I'll be at the bar if you need me, and if you have a problem with that, frankly I don't give a flying fart in space."
Klaus sighed, running a hand through his hair as he watched Kol retreat inside, and glanced back down at his phone. Maybe Kol was right; maybe he shouldn't text her too soon at the risk of seeming too eager. Kol had been right before, and now Klaus had Caroline's phone number. He could wait 24 hours to text her.
It was the mantra that he repeated to himself as he took the seat that Kol left. But as he sat there, his phone suddenly felt like it weighed 20 pounds now that it had Caroline's number in it. He gazed down at his hand, the ink from the pen already starting to fade after his skirmish with Kol. He traced the numbers with his fingertips and he suddenly understood how Orpheus turned and looked at Eurydice.
This was going to be the longest 24 hours of his life.
"Oh my god, Caroline! It hasn't even been 24 hours! Would you please put your phone down?!" Bonnie exclaimed, peering over her sunglasses at her friend. Caroline groaned and flopped back against her chair and put her pink polka dotted phone down on the small table next to her.
"Sweet god, you two are so loud!" Elena moaned, pulling the wide brim of her hat closer down and pushing her sunglasses up further to block out the sun better. "Why?! Why must you be so loud?!"
"Which is worse," Caroline asked, "being hungover poolside or being hung up on a guy poolside?" There was a slight pause before all three girls said in unison, "Hungover."
"Yes, yes, and I brought this on myself, I know!" Elena groaned and threw her arm over her face dramatically. "Just please, for the love of carbs, keep your effing voices down!"
"Drama queen," Bonnie muttered, flipping to the next page in her Cosmo.
"I mean, even if I wanted to text him, I couldn't," Caroline said, "because I gave him my number, but he never gave me his!"
"And then you'd seem even clingier and more over eager than you do right now," Bonnie said knowingly. "He has a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 36..."
"Three days!? He wouldn't make me wait that long, would he?" Caroline exclaimed. "It's only been 16 hours and I'm losing my mind!" Bonnie glanced over and gave Caroline a hard stare, and the blonde quickly tried to act casual. "Not that I'm counting or anything."
Suddenly Caroline's phone trilled and Caroline practically fell out of her chair trying to grab it. However, her caramel skinned friend in a neon green and aqua polka dot bikini snatched it first.
"Well congratulations, he's officially the over eager one!" Bonnie said nonchalantly, moving to unlock Caroline's phone.
"BONNIE! GIVE ME MY PHONE!" Caroline squealed, attempting to snatch it back from her friend, but Bonnie was too quick for her.
"Let's see, the four digit abbreviation for Miss Mystic would probs be 'M-S-M-F' so that's a 6-7-6-4..."
"I'M SERIOUS, BONNIE, GIVE ME MY EFFING CELL PHONE BACK!" Caroline hissed, crossing to Bonnie's chair and trying her best to get her phone back.
"Easy, Caroline, you're making a scene!" Bonnie warned lightly.
"And you're hurting your chances of me asking Klaus for Kol's number."
"Bitch," Bonnie muttered quietly, handing over the phone. Caroline straightened up triumphantly, adjusting her teal bikini top and unlocking her phone to read the text.
"What did he say?" Elena asked curiously, lifting her arm up to peer over at Caroline, "It was him, right?"
"'Afternoon, love. This is Klaus, just so you have my number. I hope you're enjoying the day with your friends,'" Caroline read Klaus's text aloud, and she promptly giggled as she began her reply.
"That was a pretty standard text to warrant a giggle," Bonnie said, turning back to her magazine.
"No, he put a winky face at the end, and it made me giggle," Caroline smiled as her fingers danced across the phone's keyboard.
"A winky face? Isn't that a little..." Elena started.
"Sissy for a guy?" Bonnie interjected.
"No! It's cute!" Caroline said defensively. "And it's not like he asked for my number as a part of some big, elaborate scheme to get a beard..."
"Well..."
"No one asked you, Bonnie!"
"Fine! You don't want my opinion, I'll plug in then!" Bonnie replied in a huff, grabbing her own phone, plugging in her headphones and putting the earbuds in and flipping onto her stomach and facing away from the others.
"And she calls me the drama queen," Elena muttered, putting her arm back over her face. Caroline ignored the two and hit send and took a deep breath.
"I need a drink," she thought to herself.
"I'm sorry, can I have another Deep Blue Sea?" Caroline asked a passing server.
"God, why on Earth did I put that damn winky face. Damn, I need a drink," Klaus thought to himself, staring at the text he just sent on his phone. He wished there was an undo button for him to get the text back and get rid of that damn winky face. She probably thought he was childish or being creepy.
Kol would already give him shit if he knew that he had texted Caroline before the 24 hour mark was up. He'd lose it if he knew he texted 'Barbie' a winky face. He could practically hear Kol sneer, "What are you, a thirteen year old girl?!" But before he could worry more, his phone beeped and he saw she had texted him back. He nervously opened the text, but smiled once he read what she'd sent back.
Hi Klaus! I'm so glad you texted me, I was starting to get antsy. We're having a great day, thanks. Just hanging around and relaxing. ;) ;)
He smiled and quickly replied back.
Sounds nice. Lounging around the house or out and about?
It took only a minute, but Caroline's text came through quickly.
At the pool. We decided to get some sun. ;)
Klaus gulped, the thought of Caroline in some little excuse for a bikini invading his mind and driving him mad. He tried to get a hold of himself, and he calmly replied back.
Sounds like fun. Wish I could be relaxing poolside. I'm still at work.
That sucks! When do you get off?
In 45 minutes.
That's not too bad! You'll be relaxing soon enough! ;)
Klaus read her text again and again, wondering if he should ask or not, before finally deciding to throw caution to the wind. That seemed to be the best method of approaching a relationship with the blonde.
I know you're hanging with your friends, but I'd love to see you before you leave.
He started to worry that he'd been too forward when she didn't reply as quickly as she did before, but after a few minutes his phone trilled again.
Caroline read over Klaus's last text a few times before sighing. She didn't know what to say; well she knew what she wanted to say, but she didn't know what she should actually do. She glanced over at Elena, who even though she was hungover and complaining about her head, had apparently managed to fall asleep on her lounge chair. She sighed as she realized that she was left with only one other option; and unfortunately, that one other option was ignoring her.
She reached over and plucked the quarter of an orange slice that was garnishing her cocktail off the glass and, without hesitating, chucked it at Bonnie. She was lying on her stomach now, flipping through her magazine while her head bobbed along to the music that was playing in her ears, and the orange landed square in the middle of her shoulder. She froze and slowly glanced down at the offending piece of fruit. She took out the ear bud closest to her blonde friend with impeccable aim and peered at her over her retro sunglasses.
"Did you just throw an orange slice at me?"
"It's Vitamin C, it's good for you."
Bonnie scoffed at her friend, but obligingly took her last earbud out.
"Okay, I'm listening, Anita Bryant. What's your ish?"
"So, Klaus has asked me out, and I don't know what to say."
"Yes. Next problem."
"No, I mean, you and Elena are here, it's supposed to be our 'Beach Week.' I don't want to ditch you guys."
"Caroline, we're big girls, we don't need you to babysit us. We're just going to relax poolside, so you can go see your hot slice of manmeat. Next problem," she repeated. Caroline smiled at her friend then considered her advice before burying her face in her hands. She hid for a moment, but then suddenly exploded out of her hands.
"WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR?!"
"Noise! Stop that!" Elena muttered.
"French Connection striped sundress and sandals. Next," Bonnie said. She smiled at her blonde friend knowingly, and Caroline took the hint.
"Okay, I'm going to go and get ready, I'll call a car to come and pick you guys up!"
"We're fine! Get out, crazy!" Bonnie said with a smirk, turning back to her magazine. "Give Klaus my regards."
Caroline quickly gathered her stuff back into her tote and quickly typed back.
Wanna get drinks? I'll be ready by the time you get off of work. Just pick the time and place. ;)
Klaus stepped out onto Royal Street from his cab, handed the cabbie some cash and made his way down the street. The cabbie hadn't been too far off from his destination, and he was hoping he'd get there before Caroline. He'd been so glad he had a change of clothes in his work locker and changed out of his work dress pants, button down and vest and put on a more comfortable pair of jeans, a black henley, and his leather jacket.
As he approached the doors, a girl stationed outside with postcard sized flyers greeted him.
"Welcome back to The Sun and Moon, Klaus."
"Good to see you, Sophie," he replied, "as always." He gave the small brunette a tiny smile and nod and continued into the bar. He glanced around and once he was sure he didn't see Caroline anywhere, he made his way to the bar and took a seat and was greeted by a different blonde.
"Long time, no see, Mikaelson," she smirked as she wiped the counter down with a rag.
"You know I couldn't stay away for long, Cami," he replied casually right back.
"What brings you here? You flying solo tonight?"
"Actually, I have a date, I'm just waiting for her to-" Klaus started to say, but he began glancing around and he saw the woman in question and was struck speechless. She looked absolutely stunning.
She had her hair down and straightened from it's usual curly or wavy style, and it framed her face and rested against the sun kissed skin of her shoulders, which were bare. She was positively glowing. She wore a red and white striped dress, held up with halter top strings and her white accessories, a few beaded bracelets and sandals with woven ropes, made her skin look even more tan. She was looking around and when her gaze finally met his, a smile slowly spread on her face.
"So... I'm guessing that's her?" Cami said sarcastically, but Klaus just stood and slowly crossed to meet the blonde that captivated him. They met halfway and stood for a moment gazing at each other, smiles on both of their faces, before Klaus finally spoke.
"Good evening," he said, and he couldn't help the excited grin that spread on his face.
"Evening," Caroline replied with a smile.
He decided to be daring and kiss her cheek to greet her, and he leaned in, his hand lightly resting on her arm. There was a moment of slight awkwardness as he neared her and her gaze flitted around his face, and he wondered if she wanted him to actually kiss her. But he told himself that was too presumptuous and tilted his head and lightly kissed her cheek, and once their faces were close, he felt her return the polite gesture on his own cheek as he did. He pulled away and cleared his throat.
"Well then, are you hungry? Or would you like to take a seat at the bar?"
"The bar is fine!" she nodded and smiled when he held out his hand, asking her to go ahead of him. He held her chair for her and held her hand to help her into the tall bar chair, and he reveled in the warmth that radiated throughout his body as their hands touched. As she took her seat, Cami made her way back to them, a friendly smile on her face.
"Hi, how are you doing?"
"Great, thank you," Caroline replied.
"Caroline, this is Cami, my mate Marcel's girl. Cami, this is Caroline Forbes," Klaus said, introducing the two.
"I usually prefer 'Cami the Psych student' over 'Cami, Marcel's girl,' or anybody's girl for that matter," the blonde bartender said with a smile even though she wrinkled her nose.
"Well it's nice to meet you, 'Cami the Psych student,'" Caroline said with a light laugh and Cami smiled at her.
"Likewise, Caroline. Can I get you two anything to drink?"
"Whatever the lady wants," Klaus said, looking at Caroline warmly.
"Uh, I don't know, something sweet?" Caroline said, shrugging, and Cami nodded and turned to Klaus.
"And the usual? A double on the rocks?"
"Perfect. Thanks, love."
"Coming right up," Cami tossed the rag to the side and crossed to the other side of the bar to begin preparing their drinks. Both Caroline and Klaus took a breath as silence settled between them. They nervously glanced back and forth at each other.
Caroline looked down at her wrist and started fiddling with her bracelets, unsure of what to do or say next.
"You look beautiful." She brought her head up to see Klaus gazing at her with some heavy emotion, not unlike how he looked at her yesterday when he'd asked for her phone number. It was like he was admiring a great painting or piece of art, and it sent a shiver up her spine and put her stomach in knots.
"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself, handsome," she replied, trying to sound as flirty as she could without sounding too force. He gave her a dimpled smile, but didn't reply and they fell back into silence.
"So," she started again, wanting to break the silence, "What do you want to talk about?"
"I want to talk about you?" Caroline laughed and looked away.
"I'm nothing special."
"I beg to differ," Klaus said, "You're beautiful, you're strong, you're full of light. I enjoy you, very much so, Caroline. I was more than prepared for you to shoot me down or...oh what does Kol call it? 'Friendzone' me?" He smiled again hearing Caroline's bright laughter.
"Yeah well, I thought that's where we were, and I thought that's where you were contented to stay with me, but I guess I was wrong, wasn't I?" Caroline laughed.
"Dead wrong," Klaus chuckled, "but I'm glad you were wrong..."
"Yeah, I bet you are," Caroline muttered, failing to hide her smile as she took a sip of the drink Cami placed in front of her silently before leaving them to their conversation. She looked over at Klaus and smiled as she saw him hold up his glass to her.
"To taking chances," he said softly, "because if I hadn't taken a chance on you and you hadn't taken a chance on me, we wouldn't be here..." She gazed at him, seeing the utter happiness and gratefulness in his face and in his eyes, and she took her glass and raised it to his.
"To taking chances," she replied, clinking her glass with his, and they both took sips of their drinks.
"Stop it, you were not a beauty queen!" Klaus laughed uproariously.
"I was! I was Miss Mystic Falls!" Caroline laughed with him, but after a while added, "What?! Are you saying I'm not beautiful enough to be a beauty queen?"
"No, it's just...beauty pageants are so..."
"Vapid? Fake? Annoying?"
"Something like that," he kept chuckling. Caroline scoffed and rolled her eyes then took a sip of her third or fourth drink, she was losing track. He kept laughing, as if he couldn't stop, and she stared at him incredulously.
"It's not that funny!" she said, suddenly half defensive and half angry.
"I know..." he chuckled. But when he saw her face, he tried his best to swallow his laughter and sound like he was serious, "I know."
"Then stop laughing!" Caroline whined and Klaus held up his hand and pressed his lips together tightly, as if to contain his laughter. Caroline sighed and threw back the rest of her drink.
"Look, I know beauty pageants are trite and ridiculous, but you know what? It and all my other neurotic, control freak extracurricular activities, like being Chair of the Mystic Falls Beautification Committee and the Director of the Policeman's Yearly Raffle and Cheer Captain and heading up three different prom committees, are what got me into UVA. So I don't regret any of it," she said purposefully. She took a breath and felt it catch in her throat as she glanced over and saw Klaus had brought his hand to rest over hers on the bar.
"I know," he said softly, "I didn't mean to belittle your accomplishments with my laughter, Caroline. I really fancy you." Caroline's eyes snapped up to his in surprise and he pursed his lips at her reaction. "Is that so hard to believe?"
Caroline gazed at him, incredulously and longingly. Was he joking? He was a handsome, rugged, charming, and dimpled and dashing guy with an accent that scrambled her brain while it got her panties in a twist. He could have any girl he wanted, yet he'd asked her out.
"Yes!" Caroline finally confessed.
"Why?"
"I don't know," Caroline started, looking back down at the bar, "I would've thought you'd be into the leggy, long flowing brown hair, big doe eyes and pouty Angelina Jolie lips...that type." Her gaze went back to his as Klaus exploded into laughter at her description.
"Well then you have a lot to learn about me, Caroline," he said, leaning in so that his lips were inches from her ear, and breathing, "I much prefer blondes." A shiver ran up Caroline's spine and she turned her head and gazed into his eyes. Their faces were less than an inch apart and they searched each others eyes.
"Which is obviously why I'm his favorite bartender," Cami said, approaching them, and Caroline and Klaus chuckled and separated. She glanced between the two of them, a smile playing on the corners of her lips, and leaned against the bar with her arms crossed. "So am I'm splitting the tab up? Or..."
"I've got it," Klaus said, taking his credit card out of his wallet and sliding it over to Cami. She nodded with a small smile, and took the card over to the computer screen at the other side of the bar.
"No! Please let me pay for mine," Caroline started to protest, reaching for her wallet in her purse. Klaus's hand gently caught her wrist and she looked up at him and he gazed back at her kindly.
"It's my pleasure," he said, placing his free hand over his heart. Caroline gazed back into his eyes, searching for some sort of hidden agenda, some sort of ulterior motive for him being so nice and chivalrous and having an interest in her.
"Well, thank you," she said, and Klaus smiled at her. Cami returned with Klaus's card, a receipt and a pen, and soon Klaus and Caroline were walking out The Sun and Moon's doors. It wasn't until Sophie said goodbye and closed the doors behind them that Caroline or Klaus realized that they'd been the last two left in the bar. Caroline glanced at her phone, and groaned lightly when she realized how much time had passed, and she glanced around and saw the evidence of it by the beautiful dusky colors in the sky.
"I should probably get going," Caroline said, "I need to check in on the girls and see what we're doing for dinner."
"Here, let me get you a cab," Klaus said, stepping towards the curb with his arm raised.
"Oh no no no, that's fine! I drove here," Caroline said.
"Really?" Klaus said, looking around and not seeing her car within walking distance. "Where did you park?"
"Well the street was filled with a bunch of tourons, so I parked in an alley up the way a bit," she said, gesturing up the street and away from the bar. Klaus frowned, looking in the direction Caroline had pointed to and not liking how sketchy it felt with the people he saw hanging around and the last of the daylight slowly bleeding out of the sky.
"I'll walk with you," he said.
"I'm okay, Klaus," she said, "I'm not girly, little Caroline anymore. I can handle myself."
"I'm sure you can. Just give a paranoid, alpha-male loner some piece of mind." She chuckled at his self-characterization and rolled her eyes. "Come on," he insisted, slipping off his leather jacket and placing it around her shoulders before holding out his hand to her. "I won't bite." She gazed at him for a moment, touched by his considerate gestures, then slowly slid her hand into his and they walked casually hand in hand in the direction of her car.
A part of her knew that it was a show of force to anyone that she was with him and that they shouldn't mess with her, but the other part of her was screaming inside, flailing and freaking out that she was touching his big, rough hand again. Despite it surpassing the size of hers and being courser, it gently held hers in his and she was once again amazed by the dichotomy of Klaus: hard and soft; masculine and sensitive; dark and light.
Soon they turned and were in the alley that her blue Escape was parked in, and Caroline smiled sadly as she heard Klaus sigh as she felt like sighing.
"Well, this is me," Caroline said lamely.
"Yes, it would seem that this is indeed your blue Ford Escape," Klaus said with a nod. Caroline scoffed at his sarcasm, but smiled at him.
"Thank you for inviting me, Klaus," she said softly, "I had a really nice time."
"As did I," he nodded, smiling at her. They gazed at each other for God knows how long, before the darkening air finally reminded Caroline of why she was leaving.
"Well, text me and maybe we can see each other again before I leave," she said, slipping his jacket off of her shoulders and handing it back to him.
"Okay," Klaus said. The electrically charged silence fell between them again , and not knowing what else to do, Caroline stuck out her hand.
"Goodnight, then."
"Wow, formal handshake," Klaus said although he took her hand and shook it gently, "that's great."
"Yeah," Caroline said, suddenly feeling like a prime idiot and feeling her cheeks getting flushed.
"I'm going to kiss you again, is that alright, Caroline?" Klaus said, his eyes boring into hers and Caroline felt her heart flutter as the word 'kiss' fell from his lips.
"Yes, that's...fine," she said, her eyes on his lips. Instead of meeting hers as she had expected, though, they went to her cheek again and when they were cheek to cheek, they kissed each other's cheeks like they did in the bar. He pulled away and gazed at her, but he must have seen the surprise or disappointment Caroline knew was etched on her face, because he cautiously leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
She couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips as his met hers, and his hand released hers in favor of holding her waist as their kiss deepened and became less chaste and more passion-filled. Her hands rested on his shoulders, but eventually buried themselves in his hair as her arms wrapped around his neck. One of his hands wrapped around her upper back and pulled them closer together while the other dropped his leather jacket and boldly slid down her body, caressing her ass before making its way back up her side, his hand dragging the edge of her dress up a bit as it made its way back to her waist.
The feeling of his hands caressing her body made a wanton groan slip past her lips as Klaus continued to ravage her mouth. His fingers dug into her waist, bunching up the fabric of her light cotton dress, and Caroline mentally cursed the fabric for keeping his hands off her skin. Soon he was pressing her to the front of the car, and Caroline moaned in delight, feeling his hard figure pressing up against her softer one. But as sinfully good as it felt to have him kiss her and touch her like this, she knew her friends were waiting.
"Okay," she breathed, barely breaking her mouth away from his long enough to get actual words out. "This is me...getting in...my car..." Although she said the words, her body wasn't catching up with her brain and reflecting her words as she clung to Klaus, pulling at his henley while her lips continued to battle his with no sign of letting up.
"And this is me," Klaus breathed, "waving goodbye..." as he firmly grasped her hips with both hands, and suddenly lifted her up and placed her so that she was sitting on the hood of the car. Caroline gasped at his sudden and forceful act, but it only turned her on more, knowing he had to have her, right here, right now and he was strong enough to take charge and have her way with him. The car was at the perfect height for Caroline to rest just slightly above him and Klaus settled comfortably between her legs.
Her dress hitched up around her legs due to the sheer position that they were in, and Klaus took advantage of it and slid his hands along her legs as their mouths continued to dance. She held his face with both hands or entwined his curls with her fingers and she moaned as she felt his hands push her skirt up far enough to run his hands up the sides of her legs and over the sides of her panties.
"Klaus," she breathed, but he didn't take it as the call for him to stop as he'd intended. "Klaus, someone...might see..."
"Let them look," he growled, claiming her mouth again and silencing her quickly. She gasped, feeling his fingers hook around the edge of her panties, and her gasp gave him the opportunity to break away from her mouth and he trailed hot, open mouthed kisses down her jaw and neck, then down her chest. He kissed the tops of her breasts at the edge of her neckline but soon came back to her lips and kissed her senseless as she felt his hands untie the strings of her halter top at the back of her neck.
Once they were undone, he retraced his trail down her jaw and neck and across her chest before gently tugging down her dress to reveal her white lacy strapless bra. He growled at the sight of her lingerie and plunged back down at her chest, kissing and licking and biting at her skin as he bent over her and his hands explored her curves over the lace.
"You're ethereally beautiful," he murmured, his hands gently taking a breast in each palm as he kissed her skin. "A sun kissed angel with golden silky hair and eyes as deep blue as the sea after a storm." He gently pulled at the top of her bra and lavished each breast with his tongue, somehow managing to say, "Your body glorious and natural as it is maddeningly enticing, and if I could, I would never take my hands or lips off of your skin."
"Then don't!" Caroline called, his words driving her as mad as his lips and hands were. If he never wanted to take them off of her, and she never wanted him to take them off her, who was she to stop him? At that moment, a nuclear holocaust couldn't stop Caroline from wanting Klaus right here and right now.
Her forceful command made him growl and soon he was kissing her vigorously again and pushing her back onto the hood of the car so that she was lying on her back. Once she was, he tore his lips away from hers and pushed her skirt up around her hips, revealing her matching white lace panties, that he quickly slid down her legs and over her sandals. The fell somewhere, forgotten like his leather jacket, and his lips barely trailed up the insides of her thighs before his mouth was on her and ravaging her sweet flesh as it had ravaged her mouth.
Caroline moaned and let her head fall back against the hood of the car, practically resting against the windshield with how far Klaus had pushed her up on the car. Her feet came up and rested on the front bumper and Klaus's hands snaked their way around to grab her ass as he held her in place. She didn't know which was more frightening: how much she felt for Klaus or the fact that anyone could walk past and see them in this compromising position at any moment. Both turned her on to no end, though, and she decided to live without fear and go along for the ride and soon her legs were trembling, her back was arching off the hood of the car, and one hand was burying itself in Klaus's curls as the other covered her mouth to muffle her loud moan as her orgasm washed over her.
Before she could whisper his name, his lips were back on hers, laced with the evidence of her climax. She clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, arching into him and wanting him more than ever.
"I need you," was all she needed to breath and Klaus broke away from her only a moment to retrieve a condom from his pocket and she kissed his neck as she helped him unbutton his jeans and slide them and his boxers off his hips just enough to free his hard on, which she grasped in her hand and pumped a few times before he slipped the condom on and pressed her back on the hood of the car.
Her hands held his face tightly as they kissed and his hand held her waist while the other readied himself at her entrance, and her hands making their way from his face to his hips and pulling them towards her was all the urging he needed and he slid into her. They gasped simultaneously, but it took Klaus only a moment before his lips were back on hers and his hands both held her waist and pulled her to him as he began thrusting into her.
Caroline's hands clung to his arms and back, grabbing fistfuls of his henley and her legs linked at the ankle, her still sandaled feet digging into his ass through his jeans. She gasped as he lifted his hips up more, thrusting into her at the angle and hitting her sweet spot, and he buried his face into her hair, latching onto her neck. She came undone in seconds, but he still didn't let up and she could feel herself building to another imminent climax.
"Don't stop," she gasped, "oh, don't stop. Don't stop." Her pants were quickly silenced by another searing kiss, his hips never faltering in their relentless motion. Soon his lips were back at her ear, and she could feel his warm breath on her ear again as he repeated her name, over and over.
"Caroline...Caroline...CAROLINE?"
"What?!" Caroline all but yelped, his firm but commanding tone snapping her back to reality. She gazed up at him and they were standing inches away from her car. She glanced around and realized her clothes and his were still intact and she looked back up at him to see his expectant expression, as if he'd just said something and was waiting for her response.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"I said, 'I'm going to kiss you again, is that alright?'" he repeated and the reality sank into Caroline. It had all been in her head, a mere thought in her head; a dirty, steamy, hot thought, but fantasy nonetheless.
She gazed up at him, the feeling of his lips on hers and on her skin still lingering in the back of her mind, and she felt her cheeks redden as she gazed up at him. He looked at her with such respectful innocence, not wanting to push her further than she was willing to go, but deep down, she could see the flicker of passion in his eyes. A passion, she had no doubt, that would match the passion of her fantasy, and without another word, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down and planted her lips on his.
It caught him by surprise, but Klaus quickly met Caroline with the same fervor and enthusiasm as in her fantasy and as her in the present. He dropped his leather jacket on the ground and she felt her hips gently meet the side of the car after his hands caressed her ass and trailed back up her sides to hold her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders and soon they were gasping for air and he took hold of her waist and placed her on top of the hood of the car.
Even though he acted exactly as he did in her fantasy, his immediacy surprised Caroline and she clung to his neck and torso for a moment, resulting in her falling less than three inches on the hood of her car when she released her grip on him.
"Oof!" Caroline squealed against Klaus's lips as her bottom hit the car, and her fall was apparently all her car needed to sound the alarm. The car alarm honked at them loudly as her head and tail lights started to flash, and Klaus and Caroline stopped their impassioned embrace and began laughing hysterically. They both laughed so hard they were gasping for air, until Klaus finally caught his breath.
"I saw that going differently in my head," he said, still laughing and Caroline laughed and nodded in agreement.
"You're telling me!" she laughed, holding onto his shoulders so that she could slide off the hood of the car and retrieve her keys out of her purse. She clicked the Panic button and the lights stopped flashing and the horn finally stopped. They both kept laughing and their laughter became even more uproarious as they saw people curiously peering into the alley to see what all the commotion was about.
"Is everything alright?" A middle aged woman with an LSU sweatshirt on called down from the main road, and Klaus and Caroline's laughter died down enough for Klaus to turn and wave to her.
"Yes, everything's fine! We're all good here! Nothing to see!" Caroline snorted as the onlookers moved away suspiciously, still throwing them glances as they left. Klaus turned back to her and dragged a hand through his hair with a half laugh, half sigh and Caroline sighed in turn.
"So, on that note," she started, still smiling widely at him, "I think I'm gonna go." She crouched down to grab his leather jacket and she placed it around his shoulders and raised up on her tiptoes to place a firm kiss to his lips. He caught her waist and held her there for a moment, but she eventually pushed him away gently.
"Seriously, I've got to go," she laughed, slipping out of his grip. "If I don't go now, I know I'll never leave," she added, quickly opening her car door and slipping into the driver's seat.
"Would that be such a bad thing?" he asked, a husky edge on his voice as he rested his hand on the roof of the car and leaned into her open door frame. She gazed back up at him and saw the same heated passion in his eyes before he kissed her in her fantasy, and she knew then that it hadn't been merely a fantasy; it had been a premonition. Her stomach did a flip flop and her breath caught, knowing what the fruition of her and Klaus being together would result in. His passion and eagerness made her smile, and she reached out and touched his cheek gently.
"No," she said softly, "not bad, just...wrong time, wrong place..."
"Wrong equipment?" he added, quirking an eyebrow and looking around at her car and they both chuckled, realizing how close they were to going at it on top of or in her car.
"Yeah," she said, her hand falling from his face and settling on his chest, lightly tracing the necklaces that rested against his black henley.
"To be continued, then," he said lightly and she smiled.
"Yes, very soon..."
"Not soon enough," he breathed, and her eyes flitted back and forth from his eyes to his lips as his face drew closer to hers, and she met him halfway and their lips met in a sweet, but ardent kiss. He slowly broke away from her but rested his forehead on hers as they both took deep breaths.
"Drive safely," he murmured, and she chuckled.
"I'll try," she said, wishing she could take a cold shower to regain her senses faster, and his eyes danced around her face for another moment before he pecked her lips quickly again.
"Text me when you get home," he said, leaning back and straightening up. She nodded as his hand came to rest on the door handle.
"I will," she murmured with a smile, and he smiled back at her and closed her door and waved as he had last night, and she waved back before turning her key in the ignition and slowly driving down the alley and turning onto the main street. As she slowly drove away, she glanced in her rearview mirror and saw his form jogging out of the alley and stopping to watch her leave. She smiled to herself, knowing that Klaus was always behind her, and she glanced at the clock on the computer console on her dashboard.
She quickly pushed a button and a trill filled her car's sound system and she enunciated clearly, "Call Bonnie." The car repeated her command and she saw Bonnie's name and number appear on the screen and heard the dial tone in the speakers. Soon the dialing stopped and there was a pause before she heard Bonnie's voice.
"Hello?"
"Hey it's me!" she said, brightly, "How's it going?"
There was a pause before Bonnie answered.
"Fine. We just got back to the house and we were going to shower."
"Great! That's perfect, that's awesome," Caroline gushed, "then we can go out to dinner. That's great. Awesome, sweet..."
"Oh my god, you totally did the deed, didn't you?" Bonnie suddenly exclaimed.
"What?!" Caroline shrieked.
"Oh you so did!" Elena's voice suddenly filled the car's speakers.
"Oh yeah, you're on speaker phone, btdubs," Bonnie said before Elena continued.
"You totally did the hot valet in your car, didn't you? You little hussy!"
"No I didn't!" Caroline squealed.
"Then on your car! Oooh, that's even kinkier! Well done, Care!" Elena amended her previous hypothesis and came to her resounding conclusion, sounding very proud.
"No, I didn't!" Caroline insisted. "You guys are a bunch of douchewaffles!"
"Well damn," Bonnie remarked, "Klaus must be a world class kisser then if you only made out! You only sound this chipper when you've gotten laid."
"Maybe he's a world class kisser and the promise of getting laid has her this chipper," Elena surmised out loud and Bonnie murmured in consideration. "She needs to just screw him already so she doesn't have to feel guilty about all those dirty thoughts about Klaus."
"Oh my god, shut up! You guys are so embarrassing," Caroline groaned. "I'm hanging up now. I'll be home soon, and once you guys are showered, we can go grab a bite to eat."
"I wonder if Klaus got a bite," Bonnie wondered, a teasing edge to her voice.
"I guess we'll see once she gets home!" Elena replied.
"Hanging up now!" Caroline shouted before hitting the button to end the call. She sighed, hoping the breath would let the stress and tension out of her body, but she found it mounting as she remembered the heated glances and the caresses, both real and imagined. She smiled and turned on her radio and began dancing along to the music, excited and anxious to see Klaus again and for him to get her engine going, as he said, not soon enough.
A/N: Special thanks to Alex (klarolineepiclove), Ashley (jomosfamilyjewels; TheDeej) and Leah (approvesomuch) for Betaing!