"I thought I'd find you here," I hear him say softly. He's only a short distance away, but the way his words fan over my ears make it feel as though we're lovers in an intimate embrace. Yeah right, I think. He wishes.
So do you, the traitorous voice inside my head reminds me.
I turn my head to face him. He is sauntering over to where I'm standing on the middle of the long boardwalk by the Falls.
"Oh really?" I ask him, quirking an eyebrow. "You just thought I'd be all the way out here?"
He smiles that smile, the one with the dimples. It unnerves me.
I'm no longer afraid of him. Or rather, I'm not afraid he'll kill me like he's killed countless others in his long existence. I'm afraid of how he makes me feel, even if I don't want to admit it. When he smiles like that, I see the wicked; but I also see the man who just wants to be loved. The man who wants to be loved by me. He's never said it explicitly, but I'm not stupid. I can see it in his eyes.
"Well, I may have been tipped off," he chuckles, finally reaching me.
"Tipped off, eh? Is that what they call stalking these days?"
He smiles at me before looking at the majestic Falls. It's so easy with him, and that why it's so hard. He's beginning to feel more like home to me.
"I want to keep an eye on you, Caroline. For your safety," he starts, and I can tell there's more.
"And?" I ask, refusing to look at him.
"And because I like to be close to you," he admits, to my surprise. While he is usually forthcoming to me about his intentions, he never lets himself become vulnerable.
"Klaus," I admonish. He snaps his head to face me.
"Don't," he bites out.
"It could never work," I say the familiar words, as I've said them a thousand times now.
"You don't know that. You won't even try."
I nod my head. This conversation we've had over and over again, always starting and ending the same way. My frequent dismissals should have caused him to lose interest months ago. Any other guy would have given up. But I've learned that Klaus is not like any other guy.
He sighs. I can tell he is getting frustrated with me. I don't blame him; I'm frustrated with myself.
"Just answer me this: what is stopping you? If you don't want me, fair enough, but I don't think that's the real reason, love," he says, looking at me in such a way that it's obvious he's lived a thousand years. His face may tell a tale of youth, but his eyes are as old as his soul.
"I…" I shake my head, utterly confused. I can't think straight when it comes to him, and it gets worse the closer he is to me.
"I don't know," I answer him honestly.
"I thought it was Tyler, at first," I admit after minutes of silence. This is further then we've been before. "But that's a… non-issue now. My friends, maybe?" I suggest pathetically, shrugging my shoulders.
I look up to him, ashamed for proving him with such a pitiful response to his rare demonstration of sincerity. I am off-put to see him smiling down at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"What?" I ask.
"You sort of just admitted you like me," he says with a laugh. I can't help but smile back at him. It has been an unspoken thing, our mutual… attraction. Something I never dared say to even myself, but it was weaved into every look, every conversation, every mention of his name.
"Anyway, if your friends don't want you to be happy…"
"It's not that. Look what you've done to them," I try to reason.
"Look what they've done to me, love. It's not just one sided. You and I have managed to forgive each other," he says.
"Oh, have we?" I challenge him.
"You wouldn't be talking to me if you truly hated me, sweetheart. And if I hadn't forgiven you for all the times you used my affection against me, well…" he trails off, knowing that I know what he means. If he didn't forgive me, he would have killed me by now.
"Caroline, I want you… have wanted you, for some time now," he explains. "The ball is in your court, so to say," I look at him then, confused by his words. Is he conceding? Giving up, after all this time? I am not prepared for this.
"Klaus," I begin, but he stops me by gently grasping my face in his hands.
"You are young, Caroline. You have a lot living to do. I will not fault you for being scared, or unsure. I would rather you tell me 'not now' than throw yourself into something you're not ready for. That will only hurt both of us in the end," he whispers to me.
A feeling of foreboding takes over my being with his words.
"Why do I feel like this is goodbye?" I ask.
"I could never say goodbye to you, love. I'm far too selfish. But if time is what you need, I can give that to you."
"Really? You'd actually leave me alone? No more stalking?" I question, trying to lighten the mood. He gives me a half smile and drops his hands before turning back to admire the Falls. I'm overcome with the loss of his touch, so I shift closer to him. No matter how subtle I am, I know he notices my movement.
"I would if you ask it of me, Caroline. You know I can't deny you much of anything," he says, but he doesn't face me.
Six months ago, this would have been more that I could have ever hoped for. But now? The thought of him leaving me, even if it's for me, is too depressing. The illicit pleasure I have taken from his fixation on me still troubles me sometimes, but less so now that I find myself equally as captivated.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," I say. And I mean it, about almost every part of my life. I am a vampire now, everything is different.
"That is to be expected. But just remember Caroline. The world has opened up to you, not closed around you. Knowing what you want to do is not necessary right now, but knowing that you can do anything is," he says. I close my eyes and take in his words.
When I open them, he's gone.