Hello everyone! I was going through all of my prompt requests I'm still working on and this new short story is based off a prompt I received where Klaus is into his roommate's/childhood best friend's, little sister. I thought it was a fun prompt and a nice change from what I'm currently writing and it inspired me to make it a bit longer than a one-shot. I changed it a little from the original prompt but tried to stick as close as possible, hope the person doesn't mind too much! I wanted to do the prompt justice and didn't think I would do that in just a one-shot (though I can't guarantee I will even now but I'll try) so if you're not incredibly tired of my so called writing, here's a new short story I hope you'll enjoy! :)
No beta so please forgive any errors I didn't catch.
When you're feelin', sad and lone
We will take you, where you gotta go
Smilin' and dancin', everything is free
All you need is positivity
Caroline moved and danced around the kitchen, opening several of the cabinets to pull out the necessary ingredients she was going to need, while she sang along to the song she had blaring from the kitchen radio.
Slam it to the left, if you're having a good time
Shake it to the right, if you know that feel fine
She swung her hips to the right as she cracked open an egg just as she saw someone out of her peripheral and looked up with an amused smile when she saw her roommate and one of her best friends, Bonnie Bennett, walking into the kitchen.
"Hi Ci Ya, hold tight!" she sang loudly with an amused laugh when she saw her roll her eyes and open the fridge.
"Somebody's in a good mood," Bonnie muttered as she took out the gallon of juice. "Really excited to see your brother huh?"
Caroline smiled brightly and nodded her head enthusiastically.
"I haven't seen him since-I haven't seen him in almost two years," she replied suddenly quietly and Bonnie didn't have to ask about the change in tone.
Caroline hadn't seen her brother Stefan in person since he had moved away for good, right after their mother's funeral. During the last holidays, he had ended up canceling at the last minute saying something about work and Caroline had been unable to go visit him on such short notice when she too had her own work responsibilities. Needless to say, Bonnie and her grandmother had really gone above and beyond to try and cheer Caroline up and their other best friend, Enzo, had really stepped up to the plate for New Year's celebration.
But thankfully it seemed Stefan was making more of an effort to reconnect with her. He had called a few weeks earlier saying he wanted to fly Caroline up to visit him and she had been over the moon since, immediately going into planning mode so everything would be set for her to make the trip without any problems.
"What time is your flight?" Bonnie asked, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"At 2:45. Enzo's coming to pick me up in about an hour so we can make it to the airport in time," she answered.
That was the beautiful thing about living in small towns like Mystic Falls. The nearest airport was almost 3 hours away.
"And you guys are going to be driving up in two weeks right?"
"Are you kidding? Hell yeah," Bonnie responded with a small laugh. "Does Stefan know we're coming up to celebrate Mardi Gras with his baby sister?" she added with a smirk.
"I may have forgotten to mention that yet," she responded innocently. "I don't see why it should matter anyway. We'll be staying at a hotel once you guys get there so I don't see how this affects him in any way."
Bonnie laughed and looked at her disbelievingly.
"We're talking about the same guy who flipped out on Tyler for getting you that fake I.D. and helping you sneak into that bar freshman year at Whitmore," Bonnie reminded her.
Caroline rolled her eyes at the memory and shook her head slightly, a hard look crossing her eyes briefly.
"Well things have changed," she responded quietly.
They were interrupted by the sound of a loud knock on their door followed by a familiar accented voice.
"You're early," Caroline commented as she opened the door to let Enzo in.
"That delicious aroma tells me my timing is perfect," he answered with a smirk. "Is breakfast ready?"
"Of course you come to freeload off us even today," Caroline joked as the two walked in to the kitchen.
"This will be the last breakfast we'll all have together in a couple of weeks, I'm feeling sentimental," he responded amusedly. "You'll be thanking me tomorrow morning when you're having breakfast alone or with that dullard brother of yours and his roommate that's probably a dullard too if he's best mates with Stefan and his funny hair."
"I don't think Caroline will mind his roommate's company," Bonnie teased with a knowing smile. "Let's just say she was very partial to the dimpled Brit whenever she saw him."
"Seriously Bonnie?" she laughed. "That was like eighth grade."
"That was when his family moved here but there were those few times we saw him around town or with your brother when they came home for break freshmen and sophomore year," Bonnie corrected. "She could not be anymore obvious that she was checking him out every time she saw him."
"Ah have a thing for the older men huh gorgeous?" Enzo joked.
"I was going through puberty and I thought he was hot," Caroline shrugged unabashedly, joining her two friends in laughter. "It's not like I was planning my wedding to the guy. Especially to someone who didn't even remember my name half the time."
"She never got over the fact that he pretty much referred to her as 'Stefan's baby sister' half of the time and ignored her the other half," Bonnie giggled.
"Well you're definitely not a baby anymore," Enzo wagged his eyebrows and quickly dodged the apple that Caroline threw at him. "Hey, no need to ruin perfectly good produce. I'm just stating the obvious and unless this guy is blind, he'll certainly notice as well."
Caroline rolled her eyes, and laughed lightly.
"Yes well none of this conversation is relevant because I'm pretty sure Stefan already had some kind of sordid love affair with him," she joked. "And I'm not going there for him, I'm going for my brother and see what his new life is like out there."
"Hey, a few weeks in New Orleans with no responsibilities. You're young, beautiful and single," Bonnie said with a grin. "Anything can happen."
"Stefan! Perfect timing mate. We were just talking about going out for some drinks."
Stefan sighed, unsurprised to find his roommate's brother lounging on their couch again with Netflix turned on in the background.
"Not tonight, sorry," he replied as he set his keys down, stopping when he saw their friend Marcel walking out of the kitchen with a beer in hand.
"Did you guys just discover the farmer's market or something?" Marcel asked amusedly.
"Just picked up some things I thought Caroline might like," he responded.
"Like the entire farmer's market?" Marcel joked.
"Ah yes, sweet Caroline is coming into town isn't she?" Kol asked with a grin that Stefan did not like one bit.
He was just about to respond when he heard the door open behind him and turned to see his roommate walk in.
"Where are you coming from?" Stefan asked in confusion, having assumed that he was home given the company he had arrived to.
"Elijah's," Klaus answered with furrowed eyebrows. "Why is it past my curfew father?" he added sardonically.
Stefan rolled his eyes and glanced at his phone to see if there were any calls from Caroline.
"I was just wondering who let these two vagabonds in," he responded sarcastically.
"What are you two doing here?" Klaus asked with an arched eyebrow as he glanced at his friend and brother.
"Irrelevant at the moment. We were discussing the arrival of oh sweet Caroline," Kol answered, turning his attention back to Stefan. "Will she be requiring a tour guide around the city? I would be happy to offer my services-"
"No thank you," Stefan responded quickly. "Your services will not be required under any circumstance."
Klaus smirked amusedly while Kol looked downright offended.
"Unless you want to help clean up before she arrives of course," Stefan added with a smirk.
"As appealing as that sounds, I'd much rather be getting drunk and watching the highlights of the game in the company of some very beautiful ladies," he responded as he stood up. "You coming Marcel?"
Marcel chuckled and set his beer bottle down on the counter.
"I would stay and help but looks like I'm on babysitting duty," he shrugged. "Is your sister arriving tonight?"
"Yeah, her flight should be getting in in about two hours."
"Well, have fun catching up and make sure you take her down by the bar at some point," Marcel said, nodding his head at them both before following after Kol.
"If she gets tired of you two cranky bores, my schedule is very amenable to change," Kol added on his way out the door.
"Over my dead body," Stefan muttered as he closed the door behind them, turning to look at Klaus when he heard him chuckle. "I know he's your brother but…"
"No need to explain mate," Klaus smirked. "I grew up with him, I understand all too well. Although I do think your sister is safe from Kol. He sort of grew up with her for a bit, he probably he sees her like he sees Rebekah."
"I think the only person Kol sees like a sister is his actual sister," Stefan retorted. "And I'd rather not risk it."
Klaus chuckled and nodded his head, conceding he probably had a point.
"So what are you doing with Caroline tonight?"
"I'm going to take her for dinner down on Bourbon Street, nothing too big since she'll probably be tired from her flight," he replied simply before looking at Klaus with a look that Klaus recognized all too well by now.
"Just come out and ask. What do you need Stefan?" he asked with a hint of annoyance.
"Alaric's asked me to sit in on the Miller meeting tomorrow and I couldn't exactly say no," Stefan started.
"Was something wrong with your articulators?" he asked mockingly. "It's only one word, one syllable. It's not that difficult of a word."
"Very funny," Stefan said with an eye roll. "I've been working my ass off for months for this promotion and maybe actually be able to afford my own place, and now that I got it, I'm just going to start slacking off when he needs me to step up?"
Klaus rolled his eyes, fighting back the urge to tell him what a brown-noser he had become over these last few months.
"So what exactly does this have to do with me?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"I was hoping you'd do me a favor and show her around for the day, just until I get out of the meeting?" Stefan asked. "Elena can't do it and I don't really know who else I can ask."
"You want me to play tour guide for the day with your baby sister that I hardly know and haven't seen in years?" he asked dryly. "What am I supposed to do, take her to the zoo or a movie?"
"You know she's not Benjamin Button and she has actually aged like you and I have, and she's five years younger than you Klaus not fifteen," Stefan responded sarcastically. "I'm not saying to take her bar hopping or anything like that but I'm sure you of all people can think of someplace fun to take her. Isn't this one of your favorite places in the world? Maybe you can show her why. It's just for a few hours tops and I hate to pull the 'you-owe-me' card but-"
"Spare me," he responded with a slight eye roll. "Fine. I'll figure out where to take her. Maybe I'll take her down to have a voodoo doll made of you."
"You're real cute you know that?" Stefan muttered as he glanced down at his phone to check the time. "I need to hurry up and get ready so I make it to the airport on time. I still have to stop and pick up Elena."
"You're taking Elena to the airport with you?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"Yeah, she's having dinner with us. She's excited to meet to Caroline and I thought this would be a fun surprise."
"As in a fun surprise for Caroline whom, if memory serves right, hates surprises?" he asked with a smirk. "She really might be wanting that voodoo doll after all."
"It'll be fine," Stefan answered with a chuckle. "Did you want to join us?"
"The idea of watching you squirm under your sister's glare is rather tempting but I'm afraid I already have prior commitments with Gen for tonight."
"Finally asked her out on a date?" Stefan asked with a smirk.
Klaus chuckled and started heading in the direction of his own room.
"You know I don't date," he answered over his shoulder. "And she knows it too."
Stefan sighed and slightly shook his head as he made his way back to his own room. He couldn't deny that he was waiting for the day that he would get to watch his friend eat all his words about relationships and love but for now, he had other more pressing matters to focus on, like the fact that his sister was arriving in only a couple of hours and he still had much to do.
He unlocked his phone and read her message she sent him with all her flight information the previous night.
"See you soon, sis."
Caroline walked through the busy airport, trying to find the baggage claim and then look for Stefan.
After getting her bags, she walked towards one of the exits, keeping an eye out for that familiar voice when she finally heard him calling out to her, a wide smiling appearing on her face almost instantaneously at the familiar sound. She turned and saw him off to the side, holding a small sign welcoming her that was all but thrown off to the side when he rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace that had her laughing.
"I'm glad you made it," he said with a wide smile when he stepped back. "It's good to see you Care bear."
She laughed again and nodded her head.
"It's good to see you too Stef," she agreed with a warm smile. "I've really missed you."
The sound of a throat clearing behind him interrupted them and Stefan turned around quickly, letting out a low chuckle while Caroline looked on in confusion at a beautiful woman with long straight chestnut hair, dark brown eyes, and a wide smile on her face.
"Elena, I'm sorry," he quickly apologized. "Care, this is my girlfriend, Elena. Elena, this is my sister, Caroline."
"It's really nice to finally meet you Caroline," Elena said politely, with that smile still in place as she extended her hand. "I've heard a lot about you."
Caroline was taken aback for a brief moment, not having expected his girlfriend to be there at the airport too, but she quickly snapped out of it and returned her smile.
"It's great to finally meet you too," she replied.
A couple nearly bumped into her with their luggage just then and Stefan took her bags and put a hand on her shoulder to lead her toward the exit.
"How about we do some catching up during dinner rather than the middle of this crowded airport?" he laughed. "I made some reservations at one of Elena's and mine favorite restaurants, I think you'll like it too. They have some great food and music, we can catch up and you two can get to know each other a little better," he added with a smile as he looked down at her.
"Sounds great," she said with a smile, trying to fight back her disappointment at the fact that she wouldn't get to catch up with just him the way she had originally thought and hoped.
It's only your first night. There's still plenty of time.
She peered out the window the entire drive, delighting in the view of the large city that seemed to come alive under the night sky. She had travelled around Virginia throughout her life, and had even gone as far as Disney World when she was ten, but she never really been anywhere. Certainly not to a place like this and as she looked around, she could certainly see why her brother was drawn to it the way he was.
"So Caroline, Stefan tells me you still live back in your hometown?" Elena asked while they sat waiting for their dinner.
"Yeah, the grand town of Mystic Falls," Caroline joked. "Certainly worlds different from this place. No wonder you abandoned us Stef."
"I needed a little change," he smiled with a slight shrug. "Expand my wings a bit. Maybe it's time Caroline Forbes expand her legacy outside of Mystic Falls too?"
"Caroline Forbes?" Elena asked with furrowed eyebrows. "Did you give me a fake name Stefan Salvatore?" she joked.
Stefan laughed and shook his head.
"I took on my dad's last name and Caroline took on hers," he explained. "Same mom, different dads."
Elena nodded her head in understanding before quickly proceeding to asking Caroline more questions about herself. While Caroline was enjoying her company, she couldn't deny that she would have much rather used this time to catch up with her brother.
Stefan for the most part sat back and let the two ladies get to know each other with a small smile on his face as he watched the two women of his life finally interact with one another.
After they finished their dinner and had a few drinks, he realized how late it had gotten and suggested they head out.
"Caroline's probably tired from her flight and you and I have early days tomorrow Elena," he said as he paid the bill.
"What's tomorrow?" Caroline asked curiously as she gathered her purse.
He looked at her with a tiny grimace before replying.
"I'm sorry Care, I know I said I had the week off and promised to take you around the city but I have to go in for a really important meeting tomorrow," he quickly explained. "It's only for a few hours tops. Klaus already offered to show you around until I'm off and then we'll have the rest of the day to do whatever you want I promise."
Caroline tried to give him a reassuring smile but she knew it came out weak as the disappointment flooded through her. This trip wasn't horrible or anything but it was not turning out how she expected or hoped so far. She had hardly gotten to talk to him during dinner the way she had planned and now he was pawning her off on his roommate like some charity case for the day because she did not believe that Klaus had actually offered to take her around. This had Stefan written all over it.
"I'm sorry about tomorrow Care but I'll make it up to you I promise," he said quietly as they drove back to his place.
"It's fine. What's a few hours right?" she responded with a smile. "I'm just happy to be here and to see you again."
"Me too," he responded with a grin.
It was almost 2 in the morning yet Klaus found himself walking down the streets of New Orleans, trying to fight back that familiar sensation of melancholy and emptiness that tended to creep up on him now and again. While he had always enjoyed the act of sex in and of itself, lately he had found himself desperate to get lost in that reprieve of whatever warm body he could bury himself in, but it would never be long before that loneliness settled over him once more just like it was now.
By the time he finally made his way home, it was past 2 am and he sighed to himself as he let himself into the dark and quiet apartment but as he walked further inside, he saw the faint glow of a light coming from the kitchen. Curious, he walked toward the kitchen but stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the entryway however, and for a moment, wondered if he had walked into a dream when he saw a tall blonde standing at the refrigerator with her back towards him as she peered into the refrigerator.
He felt his eyes widen as he took in her mile long legs underneath those tiny pink polka dot pajama shorts and the white tank top she was wearing displayed her perfectly toned arms that were partially covered by her long curls that he just wanted to run his fingers through.
Wait, what?
Shaking his head to try and clear those thoughts, he cleared his throat loud enough for her to hear so she wouldn't turn around and catch him gaping like an idiot.
It appeared she had been completely oblivious to his presence because he still managed to startle her. She quickly turned around with her eyes widened and a look of panic for a brief moment before he saw the recognition and relief settle in them when she saw him.
"Klaus," she said in a tone that had him questioning if she was acknowledging him or asking if that was him.
He quickly moved to turn on the light and momentarily forgot what he was going to say when he finally got a clear view of her face and was confronted by how beautiful she truly was. It sounded cheesy even to him, but as he completely took her in, he could think of no other word to describe her.
Had she always been this beautiful?
He had not seen her in person since college, when he quit visiting his family in Mystic Falls, but even then, since he had met her his senior year of high school, he had seen her as a child that he couldn't be bothered with. He had enough to deal with at his own home between Kol, Rebekah, and Henrik.
When he left for university, he had roomed with her brother so he would occasionally see pictures she would send, and he would hear stories about how much Rebekah hated the Forbes girl from his own sister while Stefan would get a completely different version from Caroline. He and Stefan would mostly roll their eyes or laugh and while he felt like Caroline was sort of a constant presence for years, albeit a small one, he never actually really interacted with her other than the occasional greeting.
He was pretty much oblivious to Caroline Forbes, all these years but he knew he certainly wasn't oblivious to her anymore.
When he finally met her soft blue eyes, he saw she had been taking him in as well before snapping her eyes to meet his and he was unable to fight back a pleased smirk when he saw a hint of color appear on her cheeks.
"My apologies, love. Didn't mean to frighten you," he said with a dimpled grin that only grew when he noticed she only grew a little more flustered than she had been or was he just imagining it?
"It's fine, it's your place and I probably shouldn't be raiding your fridge at this hour," she responded with a light laugh that had him smiling again.
"Can't sleep?" he asked curiously as he walked around the counter and leaned against it.
"Something like that," she sighed. "I promise I don't normally make it a habit to be sneaking around in the dark raiding other people's refrigerators," she found herself starting to ramble, feeling suddenly nervous in front of this very gorgeous man standing beside her and trying so hard to not openly stare at the way his grey Henley clung perfectly to his body, but when she looked at his face, she was met with those dimples, those berry lips that looked so damn kissable, and those blue eyes she felt she could sink into, and she felt like she was at a loss.
Where was she supposed to look? How was it possible that he got even hotter? What was that saying about aging better than wine?
She heard him chuckle and she found herself stealing another glance at him.
"Well you are on vacation are you not?" he asked with a smirk. "What happens in New Orleans stays in New Orleans?"
She shook her head with another small laugh.
"I'm not sure that saying always works out in real life the way it does in the movies," she giggled. "By the way, thanks for opening up your home to me," she added with a small smile. "And thanks for agreeing to show me around tomorrow. You really didn't have to."
"It's my pleasure, love. To both things you just mentioned," he responded with another dimpled grin. "It's your first time in New Orleans is it not?"
She nodded in confirmation and he saw the flicker of excitement that crossed her eyes and for some reason, he found himself excited for her.
"I've really liked what I've seen so far," she added. "Granted, it was mostly through the car window from the drive from the airport, but it seems like a great city."
"It's known as the most unique city in the country and there's a very good reason for that though I fear Stefan is terribly suited to show you why," he said teasingly.
"Is that so?" she asked with a small smirk. "So I'm assuming that you're a much better guide than he is at the moment?"
"Than he ever will be," he corrected, smiling at the sound of her light laugh. "It's all for the best that things worked out this way. You deserve to experience New Orleans properly in all of its glory. I wouldn't be surprised if you were to pick up some change of address forms by the end of your visit."
"Oh wow," she laughed, hearing him join in her laughter. "Somebody's confident. Is this confidence in yourself or your city?"
"Both," he replied easily with a smirk, tilting his head slightly when he saw the look of disbelief that crossed her face. "You don't seem convinced," he commented as he watched her expression closely.
"Well, I'll have you know I'm not easily won over, no matter how smooth-talking the guide may be," she replied teasingly.
He laughed and looked back up at her with a dimpled smile that felt like it was permanently set on his face by this point.
"I'll take that as a challenge," he responded confidently.
She scoffed and shook her head, letting out another laugh and he found himself feeling like he get used to listening to the light and airy sound that was contagious.
"Well, I should probably try to get some sleep if I'm going to be swept off my feet tomorrow," she teased with a small smile, meeting his gaze briefly before turning to leave.
He stood there, still smiling as he watched her walk away.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Caroline."
She stopped briefly and looked at him over her shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips as she subtly nodded her head and proceeded down the hall and into the guest room she was occupying.
He stood there for a moment longer smiling to himself as he replayed their brief encounter and feeling himself growing increasingly excited to spend the day with her tomorrow. He had truthfully not been looking forward to playing tour guide for the day but all of those feelings of dread and annoyance had been replaced with excitement and intrigue about this blonde he had somehow been oblivious to.
He may not have been paying attention in the past, but he was certainly paying attention now.
Thanks for reading! Like I said, this will be a shorter and lighter story and I hope you guys will give it a chance. :)
Some quick notes: there's no Damon in this story. The rest of the Mikaelson's will be included. Um, can't think of anything else at the moment. If you guys have any questions, feel free to ask and if you would be so kind as to share your thoughts with me, I would much appreciate it! :)