At last
Caroline was sitting on a plane to London. With no luggage, it was just then when she realized that the only clothes she had were the ones she was wearing at the moment.
God. I should have thought it through! she thought
"Are you alright?" the person sitting next to her by the window asked
"I said that out loud?" Caroline asked ashamed
"I'm afraid you did" the man replied
"Oh, sorry" she apologized nervously
"That's ok luv', try to relax" came his response. Did he have to be British?! she cursed her luck Of course he was.
"We're on a plane to London. I don't think British passengers are unexpected" he smirked and Caroline realized that once again she's been thinking out loud. At this point she wanted the plane to have an emergency landing so she could get out and let the ground swallow her.
Her cheeks were burning red and she hold on to her seat for her dear life. Caroline closed her eyes and let her head rest against the seat sighing heavily.
"I was late" Caroline murmured softly
"I think you made it, you are on a plane" the man pinpointed confused
"I was late for the love of my life" she said, tears threatening to fall.
"I'm sorry. I don't think I'm following"
"I'm not talking to you" Caroline stated rudely not in the mood for explaining her love life to some stranger.
"Could have fooled me" the man appeared amused with her.
"Would you mind?" she furrowed her brows and expected him to leave her be.
"Relax luv' " The man was infuriating but she took his advise and took a few deep breaths which seemed to calm her down.
"I don't usually go around speaking my mind out loud to total strangers" she explained
"Enzo" he gave Caroline a kind smile "I don't mind listening to what's going on in that gorgeous head of yours" the smug bastard was laughing at her.
"I'm sorry do I amuse you? You barely know me, so let me introduce myself. Hi, my name is Caroline Forbes and I am afraid of flying so I'm sorry if I am acting weird ok? I can't control it." you could see the anger in her eyes but Enzo remained unimpressed.
"You've got me all wrong Caroline Forbes. I'm not making fun of you. I'm trying to make sure you'll get to London without having a heart attack" Caroline smiled lightly with brows still furrowed. You could see how stressed she was.
"Okay. what do you think would help me?"
"Talk?" he offered
"About..?"
"As I said I don't mind just listening. From the looks of your inner struggle it would do you right. Take your mind off the flight and clear your thoughts. Maybe solve a problem"
"You're willing to listen without judging?" the blonde asked in disbelief
"I'll start. Lorenzo, age 34. My wife Maggie, our son Tim and I live in London. I'm coming home from 3 weeks long business trip. I miss them, I'm trying not to show how miserable I am"
"How old is your son?"
"He's three" he answered proudly
"How long have you been married?" Caroline asked further
"In two months we celebrate our fifth anniversary"
"Congratulations" she gave Enzo a smile
"Thank you. So will you take this opportunity and spill the beans?"
"Just because you shared a few things about yourself doesn't mean I trust you"
"You've got nothing to lose if you ask me" he encouraged
"It's a long story" Caroline sighed
"We have 4 hours of flight ahead of us"
"Don't you British people ever give up?"
"Hardly"
"It wasn't a real question. I already knew it" she murmured
September 2013, New York
They were beginning their senior year and decided to celebrate it. Katherine Pierce and Caroline Forbes where roommates. On the first day of their co-living Katherine rejected every gesture from Miss Mystic Falls but in the end she decided that to survive she had to have at least one partner in crime. She proposed drinks as apologies for her coldness. The campus didn't know what hit them. They were best friends ever since. Not the center of attention but there wasn't a male and what goes with the gossip any girl who didn't know who they were.
Tonight they had to keep uptake tradition. They picked up the most outrageous outfits. Katherine chose black pencil skirt, high waisted and reaching the middle of her thigh. It fitted her like a glove. the top exposed her back, there was only a bit of fabric around her waist and neck. Somehow it exposed her breasts very well although they were fully covered, the sleeveless top was also black.
As for shoes she picked matching stilettos, her hair perfectly curled. The cascade of hair might have been long enough to cover the open back but with the bounce in her step and the moves when she danced the curls seductively revealed the skin as if it was some secret seen only by the chosen ones. Katherine was a she devil. The glint in her eyes, unimpressed smirk and sharp tongue mixed with flawless body and curves made her look like a goddess.
Caroline opted for a brighter color. She decided to wear bright yellow, but not the neon shade. The dress was rather cozy in comparison to Kat's. It was simply cut, short sleeved without cleavage or underlined waist. One might think that it was quite decent option but it was anything like that. Caroline picked open toe sandals matching with her ivory skin, the dress was so short that it made her legs look miles long. She definitely could walk the Victoria's Secret runway.
She also curled her hair and let it loosely fall on the back. Both girls decided that too much make up wasn't necessary and only did thin flicks and some proper shades of lipstick. After taking their purses they were out.
After one hour on the dance floor they decided it was time for some booze. They seated themselves at the bar and saw the waiter approach rather eagerly. Caroline was just about to make an order when a tall, dark brunet appeared next to their stools and started to make an order himself. Of course Katherine wouldn't have it.
"Excuse me, if you want to buy a drink you should wait for your turn"
"I beg your pardon?" the man seemed unmoved
"My friend here" she pointed at Caroline"was ordering shots of tequila when you rudely cut in"
The man didn't bother about the remark and addressed the confused waiter. "Glass of bourbon and anything the ladies wish is on me" with that he faced them and smiled. It wasn't a wide smile, it was small but sincere with a glint in it. It was directed at Katherine, Caroline almost felt offended. "I couldn't let you buy the drinks when I wanted to buy you one. I hope you'll forgive me and perhaps save me a dance or two".
Katherine smiled. It wasn't a smirk or a pity smile. It was an actual smile, a rarity. Caroline took her queue "Excuse me I need to use a mirror" Despite her efforts at being polite neither the man nor Katherine payed her any attention. Eyes locked they engaged in a little smalltalk.
"If I look for you for that dance for whom should I ask?"
"Elijah. Elijah Mikaelson"
They stared at each other in silence, though surprisingly it wasn't uncomfortable.
"So Elijah, you are not going to ask for a name of a girl you've just bought drinks for?"
"I'm sure your name is as beautiful as you. Besides I need an excuse to approach you if you forget to dance with me"
"A dance or a name, quite a dilemma"
"I'm willing to take my chances" he said in full confidence
"Well, if you're a good dancer you may also learn my name" with that Katherine turned on her heel, took the shots she's been bought and went to the table Caroline was sitting by, with added swirl to her hips.
The night went by an around 3 a.m. the girls were ready to leave but Caroline caught her friend looking around as if she was searching for someone. Since the title impromptu at the bar Katherine's mind was miles away from her. Everytime she thought Caroline wasn't watching she scanned the crow looking for that mysterious Elijah, who kept his word. Whole night Katherine and Caroline didn't pay a cent for their drinks. The man had to be rich or crazy, or even worse both.
"Katherine don't you think we should thank him for his generosity?"
"Yeah, I think we should"
"Call me when you're in the taxi. I'll wait for you at the apartment."
"Okay" brunette answered blindly
Caroline hid and watched the two dance for a minute. They completely ignored the rhythm of electric music and danced in a little old fashion style. They talked, Katherine smiled with her eyes even though she played hard to get. Caroline knew right then that Katherine Pierce was in trouble.
That night Elijah got more than two dances, learned her name and nobody knew how but the man managed to learn her address and get himself a date.
Half year later he proposed. It meant that Caroline being Katherine's best friend also met the fiancé's family.
The Mikaelsons could be overwhelming but after some time they came around, though it took a bit longer with Rebekah. In the end hatred transfigured into friendship.
It was Rebekah who kept Caroline company when Katherine left for the honeymoon and it was Rebekah with whom she rented new apartment. It was also Rebekah who introduced her to Klaus Mikaelson.
Klaus and Rebekah were the ones who needed more convincing that Katherine isn't some gold digger.
Unlike Rebekah, Klaus wasn't around very often. After his double studies in UK, law and art history, he decided to travel around the world. Sometimes he invited his siblings to join him for a week or two. Caroline barely knew him, they saw each other only for holidays which she now spent with the Mikaelsons.
In spite of low frequency of meetings she couldn't say that he did not grow on her. Klaus never missed an opportunity to object every single opinion Caroline voiced, it was infuriating.
Then there was harmless flirting. Caroline had to have had killed somebody in previous life to receive an atonement in form of Klaus Mikaelson. He was tall and well built, she knew from the way the Henleys he was wearing clenched around his muscles. He was also tattooed what gave him the 'bad boy' look. Afterwards the necklaces from his countless adventures, they drove her crazy, why did he have to look sexy. And that was only the bottom. On top there were blue stormy eyes, curly blond hair, crimson lips and dimples.
The worst part was that she couldn't fully hate him for his rudeness towards her or his good looks because she saw the good in him.
His protectiveness over his siblings, how passionate he was about everything he did, his hidden heart under all that hard surface, his intelligence, sense of humor and his humanity.
They never aspired to anything romantic neither did they become close, they were civilized towards each other and even presented chocolates for one anther for Christmas. No family drama.