Caroline had to admit it—she was nervous. And it wasn't a good nervous, not the motivating kind. It was bad, really bad. She was a collected, strong, and independent young woman. But the thing was, it was her first day of college, and the nerves were setting it. Her roommate Rebekah was already out the door and starting an early morning class without so much as a goodbye or a well-wishing. Caroline's first didn't start for another hour. She was the master of control, and yet there she stood in front of the mirror, obsessively trying to create the perfect messy bun look. She tried to pull strands out, but then it became too much of a hassle to manage.
She let her unruly blonde curls down and figured with a little bit of hairspray, she could master the sexy just-rolled-out-of-bed appearance. Grabbing a granola bar from their shared desk, she quickly shoved her necessities into her large brown purse and stormed out of the dorm. It was now or never for her. She had to face the fact that high school was over and her adult life had officially begun the second she received her diploma three months ago.
College was a whole new world, and she wasn't sure how it was going to go. She left high school with a rep—she had been a golden child; daughter of the sheriff and captain of the cheerleading squad. But none of that mattered now. She was walking down the hallway of her new temporary home, meeting face after unfamiliar face. She was 4 hours away from her tiny hometown. Her new roommate was going to be a challenge to live with, but the thought oddly comforted her. Making new friends was always Caroline's strong suit.
Upon reaching the quad, Caroline sat on a bench near the fountain that represented the very center of campus. There were few people about at this early hour, which she found relaxing. The early morning air of September was enough to send a slight chill down her spine, but she didn't mind. It cleared her head.
A young, attractive man sat on the opposite end of the bench. She appraised him. He was decent, but not her type. His auburn hair was quaffed in such a way that made him appear… unavailable. Not that Caroline was a bigot; she had a soft spot in her heart reserved for gay men after her dad came out of the closet 4 years earlier. And her other best friend from high school, Lexi, was a lesbian who pursued beauty school after graduation. Caroline smiled. She'd have to call Lexi later tonight to tell her all about her first day.
The young man next to Caroline looked preoccupied with his phone and a piece of paper she assumed was a campus map. After a few more lost, doe-eyed looks about his surroundings, he looked over at Caroline and huffed, smiling.
"Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to know where the Medical College building is, would you?" he asked politely, but frantically.
"Actually, I don't, but my roommate's major is pediatrics. Lemme text her. Are you in a rush?" she replied, pulling out her phone.
"Not exactly, but I like to be places early. It's a bad habit. My class doesn't even start for another 45 minutes." He admitted.
Caroline laughed. "Same, actually!" She shot Rebekah a quick text regarding the location of the building she was in. "Are you a freshman?"
"Is it that obvious?" he chuckled, slightly embarrassed. Then he nodded.
She smiled. "I am too. What's your major?"
"Veterinary science."
"Wow, that's impressive. I love animals." Just then, Rebekah texted back. "My friend says to head north on the quad, turn left at the library, then walk for about five more minutes. Apparently, it's right behind the Business College," she interpreted.
"Oh my God, thanks so much!" he said enthusiastically. He began to march away happily, but suddenly turned. "What's your name?"
"Caroline," she answered warmly.
"Hi Caroline, I'm Stefan." He slung his backpack over his shoulder.
"Have a good first day, Stefan."
"You too!"
She watched him cross the quad, happily on his way. She stared into the fountain for a bit, then stood, straightened her sweater, then crossed the quad in the opposite direction that Stefan had gone. One friend made so far today, she thought. That's good.
Klaus entered his lecture hall far earlier than was necessary. A cup of tea in hand, he slowly took in the room. It was only his third year teaching. He was young, they said. His elder colleagues and coworkers had been skeptical when the university hired him, but he soon proved himself to be one of the most talented instructors in the northeast. He slowly walked through the large room, walking through the seats, envisioning his new students. Who were they? What were they going to look like? Will their names be difficult to learn?
Klaus approached the piano centered at the very front of the lecture hall. Setting his tea down, he began to stroke the keys lightly. It was something he did since he was a child. Whenever something bothered him, he would practice, which was often. Klaus liked control from a very early age, and learning to play the piano was not only beneficial to his demeanor, but also to his mental health.
His first lecture didn't start for another half hour, so he decided that leaving to get breakfast would leave his new students a chance to collect themselves without him there to intimidate. He tried to the door, but it was lodged. Great, he thought. Not again. During a fire alarm last semester, he was stuck in his room because the doorknob wouldn't budge. He'd forgotten about this problem over the summer and would have to get a hold of maintenance. He climbed the stairs, hoping he was still able to make it to the small door which looked so out of place in the middle of the wall, out of reach. The small door was specifically a way to reach the music attic, no matter how inconvenient it was. There wasn't even room for a ladder to fit in between the back row of lecture seats and the wall.
Klaus balanced himself on the backs of two seats. He took off his suit jacket and threw it carefully on the seatback next to him. He then rolled up his cuffs and proceeded to lift himself to the tiny ledge.
This was not a sight Caroline expected to witness upon entering her first class. In college. Ever. Her professor, Mr. Mikaelson, was, rather easily, climbing the back wall in what appeared to be an attempt to get to a small set of doors. Caroline had seen doors like this before, and they always puzzled her. Generally it was an inconvenient access way to reach large attics. She assumed this building must have many. That was the reason she wanted to come to this school; their music program was incredible. They were funded by the state and given grants all the time because of their success, especially in recent years.
She admired him from behind—his toned back and arms were very evident in his plaid button up. His forearms were thick and strained in his seemingly acrobatic position. And his ass—Caroline looked away, suddenly embarrassed. And she hadn't even seen his face yet.
"Umm, Mr. Mik—"
"Shit!" he yelled, startled, his concentration shattered by a light voice. He jumped down, his efforts ruined. Glaring down at what he assumed was one of his new students, he realized that the door was wide open. How had she opened the door without him hearing? "I'm sorry, the door was jammed. This is the way I get out sometimes," he admitted.
"Oh. I'm sorry I scared you." She was immediately intimidated by the sexy English accent that flowed so effortlessly out of his mouth. She glanced between her schedule and him.
"It's alright. I'm quite on edge as it is."
"Me too," she sighed. "I'm Caroline Forbes. I'm in your FVS and your lessons. I think you're my advisor." He walked back down the levels and ended up back at the piano, taking a sip of tea. God, he was far too attractive to be teaching. This was so awkward. Weren't professors supposed to be fifty plus? This guy couldn't be over thirty, Caroline thought to herself. He looked like he'd stepped out of a magazine, with his plaid button up and dark blonde scruff. As he descended the lecture hall levels, she quickly took in as many details as she could. He wore dark, well-fitting jeans, cuffs rolled up. He had the same dark blonde hair lightly dusting his forearms, which she noticed rippled as he was still on the ledge. Caroline found herself blushing when she looked up from her schedule into his way-too-shiny eyes.
Klaus took note of her anxiety. It was endearing. He made a point to not admire students; it would form an attachment he didn't have time for. Also, he'd be fired. So there was that too. She had such beautiful eyes, that conversation seemed suddenly a challenge. He tried to decipher their intricate colouring—blue, but all different kinds. Aqua and sky blue, with a ring of grey. Her mouth was elegantly contrived, a pair of plump, soft pink lips that reminded him of cotton candy. She had a petite nose, pierced with a small stud. Her hair shone in the sunlight coming through the east windows, a golden frame surrounding her face. Her eyebrows were foiled concernedly over those blue pools he knew he'd get lost in if he kept staring. So he looked away.
"Very nice to meet you, Caroline. I hope you enjoy the next two semesters."
Caroline readjusted her bag and trudged up a couple levels, settling in a seat on the end of a row. He couldn't help but admire her backside for the few seconds she faced away from him. He tried so hard, truly, so hard to not sexualize woman, especially after Rebekah hit puberty. It was a defensive big brother thing. But this Caroline, this freshman, this girl who seemed far older than 18, suddenly had his thoughts racing. He observed her. She huffed at her phone, sending strands of hair into a frenzy around her face.
Klaus turned on his heel and left the room, unsure of why he felt so damn uncomfortable.
Caroline had probably had the absolute longest, most strenuous day in the history of ever. Or so she kept reminding herself. That, and that it could only get better from here. So far, college wasn't the fun, new adventure she had been hoping for. It was a place for getting your ass kicked by people that were better than you. Repeatedly.
She hadn't mentally prepared for most of the humiliation she faced today. First off, her voice cracked in Mr. Mikaelson's FVS. It was completely mortifying. Of course, he laughed it off and said it was natural. All part of the process, he reminded her in that damn sexy voice. She knew that. But that fact that it was Mr. Mikaelson was the stupidly unnerving part. He was too hot to be giving her consoling advice. Then, after the horrifying range builder exercises, when they were all let back into their seats, she found herself staring, and really staring, at Mr. Mikaelson's ass. And she conspicuously kept eyeing it as he turned around to ask her a question. Which she didn't answer until the brunette next to her nudged her out of her explicit teacher/student fantasy playing out over and over in her head. Double whammy embarrassment. But the worst part, by far the most horrifying thing she did in Mr. Mikaelson's presence, was drop her things. Not just a handout, but her entire purse dumped out as the lecture dismissed.
Most of the students had left, thankfully, but Klaus was there to save this adorably flustered damsel in distress.
"I'm sorry I'm being such a damsel in distress," she'd mumbled, cheeks burning.
For a moment, he had been so afraid that he'd spoken his thoughts aloud. But he chuckled, blowing it off, hoping to lighten her mood. "You seem like the kind of woman who needs to be in control, and I can tell that this day has made you feel more out of control than you have probably felt your entire life," he'd remarked haughtily as he gathered up some Tic-Tacs, a tube of mascara, and about 5 assorted pens. His hands hovered over a translucent pink bag full of tampons, but pretended to not notice, as to not further humiliate her.
Of course he'd meant this as professor to student small talk, hoping to connect with her in hopes that she wouldn't drop the class after being mortified time and time again. But Caroline didn't care. She did what Caroline did best, and that was get angry. She didn't mean to direct her anger at her new professor, the professor she found herself wanting to impress the most, but it was a Caroline-ism to cover up her anger towards herself by shoving it at someone else. And that she did.
"Well, I'm sorry that I've messed up so much today already. I'll just go drop your class right now," she panted, scrambling to gather up as much embarrassing cargo as she could. Once upright, she stormed out of the lecture hall with all the dignity she could muster, and disappeared.
Klaus ran his hand through his dirty blonde curls and smiled. She was a firecracker. A firecracker he prayed wouldn't drop his class.
In other words, the day had been a disaster, all because of a few trivial occurrences in her first class of college. Ever. The rest of the day had gone rather well, mostly because she found herself on the opposite side of the music school building, as far from Mr. Mikaelson as she could be. It began to rain soon after she left her last class, and she was able to make it back to her dorm before it really began pouring. Upon entering her dorm, however, she wanted to head right back out into the storm.
Rebekah was back.
The blonde hurricane herself. Impeccably dressed in black skinny jeans, a loose t-shirt, and brown booties, she looked like a model. And Caroline stumbled in, looking like a lost drowned rat.
She was on the phone.
"I don't care, Nik, it's my first day of college." She breathed the most irritated breath Caroline could imagine possible. "It's your first day, too, you know. How much could you really have to do?!"
Caroline deducted this was Rebekah's boyfriend. Although it would take quite a man to handle her. She silently applauded Nik, whoever he was. She had to admit, the English accent was probably a turn on for him. Lord knows, Caroline about melted earlier today with another certain Brit.
"No, no, no! I want to go out tonight. To celebrate! Come on, it's only 6 o'clock!" She paused. "You're such an old man, you know that Nik? An old man. You never want to do stuff with me anymore," she whined. Caroline stifled a giggle. Oh yes, she thought. Quite the man.
"You know, I'm quite sick of receiving texts about this student in your FVS," she grumbled. "We could discuss her over dinner, since you seem so damn infatuated!"
Caroline looked up due to the recognition of the subject. Was Rebekah yelling at her boyfriend because he was looking at other girls and telling her about it? Caroline suddenly felt very awkward. She slowly got up to leave, but Rebekah snapped her fingers. "You. Stay. Sit." For whatever reason, Caroline did as she was told and sat back down on her comforter.
"Great. I will see you at Leon's in 45 minutes. Oh, and I'm bringing my roommate. She looks like she needs to get out more," Rebekah finished bluntly. There were a few things swirling around in Caroline's head. One, how rude. Two, Rebekah was obviously the type of girl who could say what she wanted to anyone and not have many repercussions. Three, why was she bringing her to dinner with her boyfriend? Caroline blinked.
Rebekah tossed her phone on her bed and stood directly in front of Caroline. "You're coming to dinner with me tonight." It wasn't a question.
"Sure, Rebekah," Caroline sighed. At least she'd be getting fun time with her temporary living partner.
"I wasn't asking," she snapped, like it was obvious. Even though Rebekah came off this blunt most of the time, something seemed to be bothering her. Caroline decided to test the waters.
"Are you alright, Rebekah? You seem a bit… high strung." She hoped this wouldn't end up in a headlock.
Rebekah's gaze snapped right back up to Caroline's but immediately softened. "Noooooo," she sighed, falling back onto her bed with a thud.
Caroline wasn't sure how to proceed. "Do you… wanna talk about it?" Yes, this was good. Normal roomie bonding moment.
"Not really."
Oh. "Oh." Okay then. "Okay then."
"You see, there's the guy. I met him today," Rebekah suddenly continued. Caroline once again had to suppress a laugh. Apparently, the accent became stronger when she whined. "And he's so cute. You wouldn't understand. So. Damn. Cute. And sweet. I dropped my pencil in the hallway, and you know what he did? He picked it up for me. That's the sweetest thing ever, right?"
Not really, Caroline decided. Common courtesy was more like it. But Rebekah was opening up for the first time since they'd moved in the previous week. She wasn't about to disrupt any bonding time they had.
"Anyways," she said, clearly annoyed by Caroline's disinterest. "You're coming to dinner tonight with me," reminding her as if Caroline had already forgotten. "So get ready."
This was the least fun thing Caroline could imagine doing.
Rebekah huffed, and Caroline grimaced. "My brother wants me to get the whole bloody college experience, so to make him believe that I'm perfectly fine with living in this whole, I've decided to bring you along. That's why," she said, as if answering Caroline's unspoken questions.
Firstly, the brother thing threw Caroline for a loop. Secondly, the fact that Rebekah assumed she would go along with everything she said, well, it pissed her off.
"You've decided?" She crossed her arms.
Rebekah raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "Yes. Now get ready. I don't want you to meet Nik looking like that."
Caroline glanced down at herself. The drowned rat look hadn't gone unnoticed. She sighed. There was no way that she was going to risk a civil war with her roommate, either. Better get ready.