Day One

I'm shooting for a thousand words or more. I achieved my goal. I'm hoping it's good. I'm shooting for a one-shot a day for Christmas (thank me later). Obviously, some one-shots are Christmas themed. Obviously, some one-shot is not. Have a great December first. Twenty-four days left until Christmas.

This one is inspired by Our Dark Soul specifically chapter one by bellamywinchester. A brief summary in case you don't want to read the chapter (which you should, it's a bomb ass book) of the whole chapter. Though, I'll tell you the part I'm really focusing on. Caroline and Elena (mostly Elena) have Damon pick them up form college to bring them back to Mystic Falls. Caroline and her mom (R.I.P.) are at dinner when Liz gets called into work. Klaus appears (because he's Klaus) in Caroline's room after a nine-month disappearance departure. They do their subtle (is it really subtle) flirting for a little. Before we finally get to the damn point (love the story, though), they discuss Tyler (before the dog shows up) and why he left. Caroline and Liz discuss why she was called into to work (you have to read the story to find out why). The gentleman original shows up and invites Caroline to dinner. Tyler dreadfully shows up being an overprotective (when Klaus does it's hot, though it's double standard I don't care) asshole. Matt tells Caroline she's going to travel with Rebekah more. Rebekah and Matt talk about stuff. After that long ass summary, the part I'm writing about is the part about him leaving. Get it! This was published a few moments after twelve but it's the thought that counts ;). Excuse my grammar. Can I just say that was not how that was supposed to end at all? They were supposed to kiss at the end, but I was also supposed to have this up by twelve. Things change. It happens. Sucks to suck. I feel the need to say: I ship Katherine and Elijah til the day I die. I, also, will ship Damon and Elena til the day I forgot what the Vampire Diaries is. This one-shot is more about Caroline.

Edited: December 3rd

I will be adding my own twist. I'm sure you find them.

Dedicated to bellamywinchester for inspiring me to write this one-shot

Caroline walks into her room. She's ready to leave school. As much as she loves college and the experience, it was absolutely exhausting. Staying awake for hours studying and stressing over finals finally took its toll on Caroline. She was ready to pass out for twelve weeks. The rest of the three weeks are spent with her mom and Stefan.

Caroline rubbing her eyes sleepily walks into the bathroom to change and start the process of her nightly routine. She brushes teeth and wipes her makeup off. While wiping under eyes with a moist towelette, she smells something. Caroline breaths in. She, weirdly, feels safe. Protected.

Caroline knows and strongly believes that she can defend herself. She doesn't need a man to take of her. Like with every woman, she knows that they can protect themselves, however, it's nice to have someone to lean on and know will defend them.

It's like something in the air shifted. Caroline walks out of the bathroom to see the source of the 'energy.' She sees the Original Hybrid. Klaus Mikealson. The blue-eyed, blonde-haired original sits on her bed looking at the source of his visit.

"Hello, love." Caroline smiles in spite of herself. She hasn't heard that pet name in so long. It makes her feel something. Caroline can pinpoint what but her breath catches in her throat. However, all too soon for Caroline anger washes her over her features.

Caroline feels herself yelling, "Get out." All these emotions wash over Caroline. Anger. Sadness. Excitement. More anger. Caroline needs him to leave, she scoffs/laughs at that, before she cries. Caroline's not one to cry over a boy. Not because her feelings are hurt. Not because she was a second choice to Elena. Not even because he cheated. She's crying because he didn't say goodbye when he left.

Caroline was, sadly, used to waking up to an empty home. Caroline was, depressingly, used to being the second option to everybody because of Elena. Caroline was, painfully, used to the people she cared about wordlessly leaving and never come back. But for someone reason for the life of her, Caroline can't understand why Klaus leaving hurt ten times more. Her dad left for more than a couple of years and for some reason Klaus leaving for nine months hurt more. Logically, that shouldn't even be possible. Yes, Caroline can admit that she cares for Klaus but not that much. She refuses. She does not care to that extent for the Original Asshole.

For a second, Caroline ponders the true nature of that. Had her attraction for Klaus just simply been because he cared? Caroline loves Stefan but she'll always be second to Elena Gilbert. Caroline loves Tyler but she'll always be second to, laughable even, to his hate for the very man sitting on her bed. Caroline loves Elena but she'll always be second, more like seventh, to Damon, Bonnie, Stefan, Jeremy, and the list just travels from that. Caroline loves her mom, likewise, but she always felt Liz cared more for her job. She knows she'd drop everything for her. But she can't ask her mom to do that. Liz loves being the sheriff. Caroline's not going to be, refuses to be the reason she leaves her job. Let's face it, Liz is her job.

Had it felt like her heart was being beaten and tortured for a long period of time? Yes! But when any friend leaves it's like that.

Great! Caroline had spilled blood on her dress. Blood was a bitch to get out of a clothing. Caroline comes out of the bathroom after going through the motions of stain cleaning. Stefan had texted the group (Matt, Damon, Elena, Bonnie, Jeremy, and Tyler) to get to the boarding school urgently.

Minutes later, the whole gang are sitting in the same living room trying to remain calm at the sudden news. Damon stands up dramatically. Caroline rolls her blue orbs. Damon, in general, is a big eye roll. Damon and Elena together. Eye roll. Damon being Damon. Eye roll. Damon 'breathing' the same air as her. Eye roll. "We received news that Klaus and his family of pains are gone. Do I know where? No. But he isn't here trying to kill us. Or he's dead." Caroline winces, even though it's not true, at the thought of Klaus dying or more like him dying and her dying because of that.

Matt looks sad. Elena looks conflicted? Bonnie is almost in tears she's so excited. Tyler, eye roll, is amused. Stefan and Damon are relieved. Jeremy is happy. Matt probably misses Rebekah even if he won't admit it. Elena, probably, misses Elijah or something. They had a weird, platonic, relationship. At least Caroline hopes so. That would not be fair towards the Salvatore brothers mostly Stefan. Bonnie is over the moon happy. She's glad that the drama is over. Tyler, scoff, is glad he's unsired and can get back to his 'girlfriend.' Dick! He has another thing coming. Stefan and Damon, for a while, don't feel the need to 'rescue' and risk their lives for Elena, their epic love. Who is perfectly fine to take care of herself. But that's a topic for another time. Jeremy is glad his 'girlfriend,' along with himself, and sister is safe. Caroline wishes him the best of luck with all three of those topics. Caroline? She's emotionless. Elena's safe. The Originals aren't a threat anymore. That's good. But her heart shatters a little. She developed a relationship with surprisingly the original bitch and the original asshole. They have become big parts in her life. For them to just take off without a bye or farewell was earth-shattering. For a second, she thought they cared for each other. Guess not.

Tyler? Is that why Klaus let him come back? That arrogant asshole knew he was leaving for good. Not on some dumb ass trip to London to get their dumb ass proper ass brother. No. They wouldn't come back. Caroline was seething on the inside. It quickly washed away and instead of leaving sand it left sadness. Caroline wanted to cry. She didn't let it show. She refused to even acknowledge it. She would, just like with everything else, let it boil over until it was too much and she would trash her room and cry. She's been doing it since she was ten and she's going continue to do just for nine more months...not that she knows that now.

For some dumb reasons, Caroline developed a common ground (It wasn't an alliance. They had sort of became friends.) with them. She saw the good in the pair even when no else, their parents included, refused to. Where there's love there's always humanity even if it's smaller than Damon's dick. She hated herself for it. Just like now, her humanity blew up in her face. Caroline will get over it. She always did and she always will. She bounces back like a frisbee, if thrown right, glided back.

A week later, nowhere in her site were the originals, Caroline texted Klaus. For the first time, he didn't answer. He didn't even read it. On one hand, it saved her the agony of hearing his voice or picturing him smirking while typing a reply. On the other, she couldn't hear his voice or visualize the excitement in his eyes. She'll never admit it to him or anybody, she loved the sexy British accent he had. She didn't even know if he received it. Did he take his phone?

Two months had passed, she was bored and texted Rebekah. The two of became so close to an actual trusting friendship. She read it. Caroline saw the typing dots on her screen appear. She never did finish it. What Caroline would 'soon' find out was everyday Rebekah would write her a diary entry. Everyday. For nine months, she takes the time to write her at least a paragraph of information on Klaus' and her life. Maybe Caroline lied? Maybe they did have a friendship?

Four months would pass before anybody mentioned the Originals. They had needed Klaus' aid. A vampire had endured the pain of a fatal werewolf bite. Of course, the triangle, because Elena couldn't decide, asked her to be the blonde bait. The triangle had asked her to get Klaus to give the dying wolf some of his blood. Caroline felt guilty for a long time afterward, but she couldn't bring herself to text him. In fact, she had come close to deleting their text conversations. She had come close to deleting his contact name. But Caroline couldn't. Caroline wouldn't. Caroline will never. Maybe she was stupid and naive. But she dreamed of the day she'd wake up and the Original Hybrid would be there sitting on the foot of her bed or even walk through her house door. Was that pathetic?

Seven months later, a blonde woman passed through Mystic Falls. She resembled Caroline to a 'T.' She described New Orleans, Louisiana. They deduced that's where the Originals settled. She described having a brief fling with the King of New Orleans. This almost broke Caroline. Until she said he broke it off. He loved what he was doing and someone else. Maybe she was ignorant? Maybe she wanted to believe the original blondes still cared? Maybe she needed to believe there was a reason to have high hopes or any hope?

A week before nine months later, Caroline opened a chest from the bottom of her closet. It had a lot of the junk in it. However, there was something she valued highly and 'forgot' was in there. It was a bracelet. She wore it for the rest of her life. It was magnificent and unworthy of her. She smiled at the thought of Klaus telling her otherwise. He was her 'confidence' in a way. She didn't need it, but it was a nice feeling. She got out of bed without him. She survived in life. But to everyone else, they would find themselves asking did she live in life? Stefan realized and asked what made her stop her 'Mary Poppins act.' To Stefan's dismay, she would never tell him. The million dollar question was who made her stop her 'Mary Poppins act.'

Nine months later, Caroline was in front of Klaus. She had her hair in a bun, half a face of makeup, and in revealing shorts and a tank top. She was crying. Even though she didn't realize it, she was sobbing in the arms of the same man that made her cry or made the dam break. She didn't plan it but somehow to her, it made sense. She cried and cried about everything, not just about Klaus. All the pent-up emotions were finally let out.

Caroline didn't move. Klaus didn't say a word. They stayed like that. Stefan stopped by the next day ready to demand an answer when he sees Klaus and Caroline, the big bad hybrid and his best friend cuddled up resting on Caroline's bed.

Maybe Caroline was ignorant? Maybe everybody needed to be? Maybe everybody deserved to have a little hope in life? If hope was ignorance than so be it. She would be ignorant for the rest of her life.

Hope? Ignorance? Is their a difference?