Dreams and Happy Places

Chapter 1

It was raining the night that Caroline Forbes met the boy who would forever change her life. Rain drops feel on her forehead as the scent of smoke drifted from her best friend, Elena's cigarette making it almost impossible to stand there and gain access to Damon Salvatore's fraternity party even though they were all way too young to be there. Damon didn't care however, to him the more that were there the merrier. If the cops weren't called, he felt like his old buddies from high school could come whenever they wanted to. Unfortunately for Caroline (who didn't want to be there in the first place) Elena just so happened to be one of those many friends and wherever Elena went Caroline followed.

Elena jabbed her elbow into Caroline's side causing her to turn around sharply to see why the hell she had done that. Her cigarette dropped to the ground as Elena stumped it out looking around to see if anyone was listening into their conversation. She always seemed to use this habit as if she wasn't brave enough to be mean to Caroline while other people were looking at them. No. Those were saved for moments they were truly alone like now when the couple right next to them who Caroline didn't recognize from school were heavily making out. Too distracted with each other to pay attention to what was going on beside them. Caroline craved for moments like that where she could be in ignorant bliss without a care in the world unfortunately that hadn't happened in a while. Not since he had walked out of her life last year and left her to adjust to life without him. She wondered what the hell he was doing now.

"Hello! Earth to Caroline! Are you even paying attention?" Elena asked passing a hand over Caroline's face as if she were in a trance.

"I'm sorry Elena, I guess I was just spacing out to pass the time. What were you saying again?"

Crossing her arms over her chest. Elena glared at Caroline like she usually did when she wasn't paying attention to her causing Caroline to feel rather uncomfortable like she usually did when she pissed off Elena. She was not a girl whose bad side you wanted to get on, ever. Caroline had witnessed head on what Elena could do and she hadn't liked it. Not at all. It was why she had not trusted Elena for a while, but of course she would never tell Elena that to her face. Not unless she had some kind of social death wish.

"I was saying that we should get a move on seeing as how you've been checking that couple making out for five minutes that you haven't noticed that the line has been moving for some time now and you're starting to piss everyone behind the line off."

Cheeks flushing the couple who had been making out in front of her pulled apart suddenly embarrassed as the girl whose long blonde hair reached down to her butt crossed her arms and glared at Caroline and Elena feeling rather pissed off at the interruption as if no one else besides those two would call her out in it. Thankfully after a couple of seconds of unnecessary glaring the boy pulled her to the forest where they could continue there make out fest. Thank God for that.

"Was that really necessary? They weren't hurting anyone." Caroline asked feeling rather defensive of herself after Elena had called her out like that. If there was anyone who could make Caroline feel like a pervert, it was Elena.

"They were ten seconds from needing a room Caroline, I just thought I would save everyone from discarding their dinner in the nearest bush. After all no one really wants to see that."

"Did you really have to embarrass me to make your point though?"

"Someone has to put you in your place every now and again Caroline and I'd rather it be a friend like me than someone else who isn't aware of your situation. After all we don't want a repeat of two years ago now do, we?"

"Why would you even bring that up? I don't need everyone and their mother knowing about that Elena. It's bad enough that you and my mother know, do we really need to bring everyone else into this too?"

"Then do yourself a favor and have some fun with me tonight. I don't want to tell everyone your secret, but I will if I feel like it will help you in the long run."

"Fine. You win. I'll try to have some fun tonight even though school is back in session in two days and we really should be preparing for that."

"I swear you're the only girl I know that actually looks forward to go back to school instead of enjoying her last two days of vacation."

"Please like you aren't looking forward to running the school in our last year plus I don't want to stay out all night because I have a hair appointment with my stylist tomorrow."

A smile crossed Elena's face. "I still can't believe that your baby sister finally convinced you to do something with that boring ass hair of yours. I'm so excited to see what you've done with it."

"I thought you liked my hair."

"I do, but you have to admit your kind of predictable. It would be nice to see some change from you even if it's a small one."

"Now you sound like my therapist."

"No one ever said she wasn't a smart woman."

"I guess you're right. I really do want to try new things this year. I'm tired of being afraid to live all the time."

"You do know no one blames you for acting out these past two years, right? After all you did go through way more than you should have. I know I give you a hard time about it, but I really do want you to get better."

"And I will get better. Just in my own way. Now come on, it looks like we're next and from what I remember you wanted us to have fun tonight."

"I do remember saying something along those lines."

"Come on let's go."

With a smile from Elena, Caroline looped her arm around hers as they made their way to the party of the year.

Music blasted from the sound system as one of the frat boys who oversaw the music played one of the newest hits that Caroline didn't recognize. The room was dark and filled with bodies that were pressed together. Some dancing, some making out and feeling each other out as strobe and black light filled the room reflecting off everyone's clothes except those who were wise enough to wear something darker like Caroline. The last thing she wanted from this party was to be noticed at a party where her and Elena shouldn't even be allowed into much less drinking at like Elena wanted to.

Elena's hand grabbed hers as she weaved her way through the crowd crashing into everyone they could as Elena waved to everyone there who she knew smiling brightly, but that was just who Elena was. Despite all her flaws Elena was quite popular which made being friends with her even more intimidating seeing as how if they hadn't been friends since childhood, Caroline thought that Elena wouldn't have bothered giving her the time of day. Which was why she always tended to stay on Elena's good side, because if somehow her and Elena stopped being friends, she wasn't sure what the hell she would do.

Light illuminated Caroline's pupils making her wince slightly at the sudden change of brightness as she took in the disarrayed state of the kitchen that instantly made her want to get down to her hands and knees to scrub the sticky substance, she would only assume was beer off the floors. The unfathomable stench of booze and B.O mixed in the air as Caroline fought every urge to plug her nose to escape the smell. Like seriously, did these boys even know what wonders a clean house and a hot shower could do for their everyday lives?

Noticing Caroline's hesitation as soon as it was brought on, Elena pulled her to the table where four frat boys were playing beer pong and immediately recognized Damon as they stepped by his side. Elena let go of her hand and embraced Damon while Caroline showed no real signs of giving the same sentiment. She hated hugs. It just wasn't who she was. Damon sent a nod of greeting in her direction as he turned his attention back to Elena who was already homing in on the one skill Caroline knew she mastered in. Flirting with guys she didn't really like to get more information out of them. Caroline didn't really feel sorry for any of them though. They knew what Elena's game was as soon as she opened her mouth to speak of them. It was like they willingly stepped into it just so a girl like her would even acknowledge them occasionally. It was quite sickening really.

"Hey Elena, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Damon smiled getting so close to Elena that Caroline swore he would kiss her right there and then if he had the choice.

Elena rolled her eyes semi annoyed as she looked over to the mess of food that was on the counter beside them.

"Oh, please Damon, What kind of normal teenager talks that way? You are so behind on the times and you just barely got to college. I would hate to see how you talk when you spend a couple years in this place." She said jumping onto the counter causing a few empty cups to knock over and land on the floor.

"Hey." One of the frat guys complained as he stepped forward wanting nothing more than to say something to Elena for her shallowness.

Elena flipped her hair to one side staring dead into his eyes and put on that charming smile of hers just like she always did when she was in any fragment of real conflict.

"Is there a problem here?" She asked challenging him to say something. She was the queen of making scenes when they weren't necessary.

"I wouldn't be acknowledging your existence if I didn't have a problem. What was your name again?"

"Elena." she answered twirling a string of hair around her finger as if she was already dismissing this conversation.

"Well Elena since you obviously are a guest at this frat house, I expect you to follow proper protocol if you make a mess in our kitchen."

"And what's that exactly? Take my top off and wipe the floor with it so you can see perky high school tits or take you to the other room, so I can do you some other favors? I mean what would your fellow brothers think if you were getting sucked off by a seventeen-year-old girl?"

Caroline's eyes focus on the frat boy as he took a step closer to Elena hoping that she wouldn't have to step in the middle of it to stop them. Thankfully for her and her lack of wanting to deal with confrontation, Elena didn't seem to back down and looked far from needing any sort of help. That was Elena for her always not needing help.

He chuckled caressing Elena's cheek as Damon stiffened ready to attack if necessary.

"Trust me Elena, A little narcissistic bitch like yourself isn't my type, but if you're offering something, I wouldn't mind taking you to another room and having you pleasure me. I mean a mouth is a mouth after all, Isn't that right boys?"

A few chuckles surrounded them from the beer pong table as Elena's hand slapped to the right side of the boy's face making him looked stunned when he recovered from it. He lunged forward looking ready to attack Elena as Damon met his body and pushed him back positioning himself in front of the one frat brother he probably didn't want to cross and Elena. Caroline had wished she had been brave enough to do the same.

The guy looked up at narrowed eyes at Damon as everyone else held their breath to see what would happen next.

"What the fuck dude? Are you really ready to give up your position here in order to protect this dick sucking slut?"

"Come on Kai, you need to chill out for a second and see what you're doing here. You're losing you temper over a seventeen-year-old girl who's showing you up. Just let it go and let's all have fun."

Kai spat in Elena's direction causing Caroline to take a step back with her while Damon shook his head.

"Whatever. I'm done here. Just make sure your bitch and her friend don't cause any more trouble. Come on guys. Let's get back to the game."

Mummers of agreement went up into the air while the boys resumed their game, Damon turned back towards them sending an uneasy smile in Elena's direction.

"You know you didn't have to do that right? I'm a big girl and more than capable of taking care of myself." Elena said seeming a little more than irked.

Damon shrugged running a hand through his tousled black hair as the smile grew. It didn't matter how much Elena treated him like shit. He still had a soft spot for her. He just would never admit it no matter how happy she made him. It was why they never had the balls to be together. Not like Caroline could say anything. The only relationship she ever had was with someone who treated her like utter shit and had used her to get exactly what he wanted before he dumped her leaving her in the cold to pursue bigger and better things. But she couldn't think of that now. Not unless she wanted to start randomly crying in front of this room full of strangers.

"I know that. I'm just a little worried for Kai over there. No matter how tough he seems I don't think he's as tough as he looks. Especially not when it comes to a girl like you, Elena Gilbert."

"Now you're just trying to lay on the charm extra thick." she teased even though she couldn't help but smile.

"I'm sorry, I should remember how much you don't like it when people turn on the charm. How about I get you and your friend a beer instead?"

"Oh, Caroline doesn't like beer, but I'll take one." she answered with her man-eating smile.

"Are you sure Caroline? I know these parties can be pretty boring without an alcoholic beverage to make it any more bearable." Damon said acknowledging her for the first time that night.

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm not really a beer person." Caroline answered throwing him a kind semi smile.

"Suit yourself." he said with a shrug as he grabbed a beer for him and Elena.

Elena popped the tab off her beer can and guzzled it down taking a break to smile at Damon.

"Do you want to dance?" she asked Damon.

"I'm not much of a dancer, but how could I turn down such a pretty face like yours."

Elena smiled as Caroline tugged on her sleeve causing her to narrow her eyes and swing around to meet her gaze.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked it a quit voice.

"Fine but make it quick. We'll be right back Damon."

Damon gave her a wave of acknowledgment as Caroline took Elena to the corner of the room. Her shoes making noises as she walked because of the floors. Ugh. When they were out of earshot from the boys, Elena turned to Caroline, her nose crinkling like it did when she was really irritated.

"What's this about Caroline?"

"I'm just concerned is all. That was pretty intense back there and I want to make sure you were okay."

"Nothing a can of beer and a cute boy can't fix." she smiled running her hands through her hair and waving at Damon.

"About that. What am I supposed to do when you're hanging out with Damon? I really don't want to feel like a third wheel, but I hardly know anyone here."

"Oh, come on Caroline, Damon almost invited half our senior class here so he could show off his new life and if you don't want to have a conversation with any of those people while there's a ton of cute college guys and girls for that matter if that's what you're into. Now go ahead and make some new friends. Trust me, you'll have more fun that way. And do us all a favor and have a drink to take the edge off. It'll be way more fun for the rest of us."

Before Caroline could get another word out, Elena was out of her range of sight and to Damon within an instant grabbing his hand and pulling him to the dance floor where a song that Caroline hardly knew played as people danced really close to it. Great. Just what she needed to be alone in a room full of people she hardly knew. She guessed she better make the most of it.

Making her way to the counter where Elena had knocked a few cups off of mere moments ago, Caroline skimmed the limited amounts of drinking options over until eventually she settled on pouring herself a cup of jack and coke (A choice she had faintly remembered from the summer before) as she made her way to the dance floor squeezing her way past multiple couples until she found a corner to be comfortable in until Elena was done dancing. She knew that Elena had took her out to have a good time and to not think about the past two years, but for some strange reason being in the room surrounded by people had never made her feel more alone.

She swore that if she tipped her head back just right and downed that drink just right, she could remember those nights back down by the train tracks. If only it were that easy for her. If only those memories brought her more smiles than they did pain. She swore she could almost see them right there and then before a voice caught her attention momentarily distracting her from her deep thoughts.

A girl who looked no more than fifteen years old had taped her on the shoulder trying to catch her attention as she opened her mouth ready to tell Caroline something through the crowded and noisy room. At first her words were swallowed by the crowd making her seem frustrated when Caroline gave her a puzzled look indicating to her that she had not heard a thing. The girl stepped closer closing the space between them as Caroline held her cup closer to her chest. She had always been paranoid with people by her cup no matter who they were. It also didn't help that she didn't know this person.

"Are you Caroline Forbes?" The girl asked making Caroline narrow her eyes in surprise and confusion. Not many people knew her name. Most people never bothered.

"Yeah. Why? Do you need something from me?"

The girl looked around seeming surprised that she phrased a question like that before settling on the words that she wanted to use.

"Well kind of. I don't really know you, but I do know you're Lexi's sister and you were the first one I knew that I bumped into that could help-"

Panic shot through Caroline making her chest feel tight as she tried to calm herself down. It was noisy in here. Almost too noisy. She had to concentrate though. What the hell was wrong with Lexi? Why the hell was she here in the first place?

"Lexi? Why is she here? She's barely even fourteen years old!" Caroline shouted over the music causing a few people who were standing by them to turn to see what the drama was about. Vultures.

The girl looked at her in surprise but continued as if her reaction was totally normal.

" I tried to convince her that this party was bad to come to begin with, but she insisted on coming because Lee invited her and she totally digs him, if you know what I mean, so I told her we could come because I just got my permit and we were chilling with Lee until I went to go to the bathroom and they were gone. I know I'm probably over reacting right now and it's her life to ruin, but I think that she's doing this for all the wrong reasons. And I- I just don't want anything horrible to happen to her anymore. She's already been through so much and you're the only one I could think of that's been through just as much as she has. So, will you help me find her? Please."

Caroline took a couple of deep breaths to calm her racing heart as she tried to think logically. She knew rationally that whatever Lexi had decided to do was her choice and her choice only, but then she thought about her baby sister going through exactly what she had been going through and knew that she didn't want her to feel the same way that she had felt. So, she took one more deep breath before speaking to the girl once again trying to convince herself that what she was doing was the right thing.

"What's your name?"

"April." she answered.

"Okay. I'll help you, but it's up to you to get Lexi home and safe when we get her alright. I came here with my friend and she's my ride so I can't really take you guys home."

Like parties, Caroline did not do cars. The girl nodded her understanding as they searched all the rooms for Lexi until they had finally found her in one with a bunch of couches where random people were making out. Lexi was straddling a guy who Caroline assumed was Lee as Caroline made her way to them putting both arms to her waist and trying to make herself look more intimidating when Lexi herself knew how much she could crumple like paper at any given moment. Clearing her throat, Lexi and Lee sprung apart while Lexi got up and narrowed her eyes at Caroline before focusing back on April. What was up with that anyway? It wasn't as if she had interrupted them.

"Really April? You can't find us for what all of fifteen minutes and you run scared to my sister of all people. Do you not know how much trouble I'll be in with my mother if my sister tattles on me like she always does?"

April's eyes fell to the floor almost ashamed that she had over reacted as Caroline rolled her eyes. Caroline wasn't brave with most people, but her sister was always that one exception. Especially when she was acting like a bitch to someone who cared about her.

"I won't have to tattle on you when you step foot through that door and you're drunk as a skunk Alexia. And what the hell are you even doing here? Huh? This is a frat party. How the hell did you even get invited in the first place?"

"Unlike you Caroline, I try to maintain my social life. Lee here invited me, and I really couldn't find a reason to say no. I think the real question you should be asking is why the hell you're here. You hate parties and fitting in, so why the hell are you here and ruining everyone else's fun?"

"Really Lexi you call getting drunk and fucking random guys fun? You can get yourself really hurt doing things like this?"

"Like you're one to talk, or should we recap for the audience what you've been through the past couple of years because you refused to cope with dad's death like mom wanted us to. At least I'm doing this for me and not because I feel like it's the only way for me to cope. So why don't you stop being a selfish bitch for once and just let me have fun."

Fury ran through Caroline's bones as Lexi turned back towards Lee ready to pick up where they had left off thinking that she had won this round as something took over Caroline causing her to grab a hold of her sister by her hair and dragging her up, so she would be facing her. Lexi let out a yelp digging her nails into Caroline's arm as Caroline let go getting close enough to Lexi, so she would feel the warmth of her breath.

Before she could process what, she was fully doing, Lexi raised her hand to meet Caroline's as Caroline's fist met Lexi's face sending her into April's arms as she looked back at Caroline with shock. They had attracted quite a few on lookers by now, but Caroline didn't care. She had deserved that when she had brought their dad into it.

"Take her scrawny ass home before she gets her ass kicked." She said to April who only nodded in response taking a very pissed off Lexi out of the room claiming that she could take her if she wanted to and to just wait until she told their mother about this.

Caroline rolled her eyes waiting until Lexi and April had left to turn to Lee. She wasn't done with this not by a long shot.

"What the hell was that about? You ruined all the fun."

Scoffing Caroline swiped the vodka bottle that was out of his hand tossing her half full rum and coke cup at him before she answered him trying to look as menacing as possible.

"No what I ruined was my mother's abilities to press charges on your sorry ass for statutory rape, you fucking dumb ass, so unless you want my mother, a fine member of law enforcement I may add, to find you I suggest you find another more suitable female to stick your dick in. Good luck by the way. Most girls aren't turned on by guys who try to screw a fourteen-year-old."

"Whatever. Your sister isn't shit anyway and not nearly worth the trouble no matter how many of my friends claim she's great with that mouth of hers."

"What did you just say?"

"Oh, darling if only you knew just how popular Lexi really was. How did you think she got so up there? I don't think there's a single guy in her grade that she hasn't blown. Just go ahead and ask around. I'm sure you'll find the answers you're looking for."

"I suggest you shut the fuck up before I make you."

Lee shrugged moving off the couch and ramming into her before leaving the room all together. Whatever. She needed to find Elena and get out of this party before she lost it altogether.

When she had finally managed to find Elena, she was sitting down on the sofa next to both Damon and Kai (Looks like all that had been between them was now solved) as they look turns sharing jokes and laughing their asses off at whatever they could think of. Caroline blew a stray bang from her face as she made her way across the room with her newly acquired bottle of vodka as she plopped onto the couch next to Damon where the laughter had seized to exist. Jesus, Was she that much of a killjoy?

"Hey, Caroline. What's wrong?" Damon asked trying to look everywhere besides her.

"What's up is that everyone at your party is a fucking jack hole." She told Damon as he tried to contemplate this

She did her best to ignore him as she turned her attention to Elena who seemed rather passive aggressive at this point in time. Perfect. That was just the mood she wanted her to be in.

"Alright Elena, I tried, can we go home now?"

Elena sighed trying hard to resist the urge to roll her eyes but answered in as nice of a way as she possibly could.

"Look Damon and I were having a rather important conversation so if you could keep yourself busy for maybe forty-five minutes than we could go. Okay? I just don't really want to leave yet. "

"Whatever. I'll be by the car when you're done."

"I really don't appreciate your tone Caroline. You know you should really be appreciative that I drive you around everywhere seeing as you're too useless to do it yourself."

Caroline flinched at the tone of Elena's voice and the way she had said her words. Did she really think that Caroline was a piece of shit that she could walk all over whenever she wanted to? No way in hell would Caroline allow herself to be treated like this for a single second longer.

"Like I really like waiting until your done sucking dick to go home. Come on Elena, can't you just do what I want to do for a change?"

When the words were finally out, Caroline immediately wished she could have taken them back. Of course, she always wanted to stand her ground with Elena, but she could have done it another way. Why the hell had she said that to begin with. Was she really that stupid?

"Elena, I-I-"

Before Caroline could apologize, Elena raised her hand up to silence causing her words to falter as she stood up, so she was face to face with Caroline. Caroline's breath caught as her heart started racing. Dammit. She knew she shouldn't have said something.

"First of all, I would shut that mouth of yours before I bust it for what you just said to me and second of all I would find another way to get home tonight seeing as how you're no longer getting a ride from me."

"Elena-"

"Go. Now. Before you give me more of a reason to kick your ass."

Caroline gulped turning to head towards the door as thoughts raced through her mind. She had just basically screwed herself by talking down to Elena and now that Elena was pissed at her she had no one to really talk to. Congratulations Caroline, You're truly a fucking asshole.

Darkness crossed at the edge of her vision as her breath came in faster making her way through the woods that she had come to know well. Her therapist had always said that whenever her mind got this way, she could either talk a walk or go to a place that gave her calming thoughts. Since talking a walk obviously wouldn't help in this situation, Caroline had opted on going to one place where she herself had some pretty happy memories while she sat down and thought of how she could possibly get back home without having to call her mother. She guessed that she could always walk home if she ran out of options, but she would rather it had not come to that if she could help it.

After a five-minute walk into the forest, Caroline finally made her way to the train tracks where her and Elena would go to just escape the world. It had become a stable environment for Caroline ever since Elena had showed it to her a couple of weeks after her dad had died. When Caroline's behavior and recklessness was at it's all time worst. They would come up there with a bottle of liquor they would steal from Caroline's house and a few cigarettes that Elena would pawn off her sister and just sit there and talk for hours. It was some of the best and the worst times of Caroline's life. And she owed those all to Elena. No matter how much of a bitch she was to her sometimes, sometimes she did have a soft side to her.

Sighing, she unscrewed the top of the bottle cap and put her mouth to it guzzling down as much vodka as she could without up chucking the harsh liquid burned her throat as she coughed a couple of times before continuing to drink. Maybe if she drank more alcohol it would calm her nerves and teach her how to really have fun occasionally. Maybe everyone would take her seriously then.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A voice said from the forest causing her to be rather jumpy

Caroline squinted trying to find the person who spoke through the darkness of the forest but couldn't make them find anyone. Dammit. She better not have been imagining this.

"Who's there?" she asked hoping someone would answer her back.

A figure stepped out of the shadows to where the moonlight bathed his face causing Caroline to get a good look at the stranger for the first time. If Caroline had saw this guy anywhere else except in the middle of the forest she would have thought he was really cute instead of a possible serial killer. Why else would he be out in the woods in the middle of the night?

Noticing the hesitation and worry on her face, the mysterious man held up his hands in a surrendering gesture and continued.

"I didn't mean to startle you. I was taking a walk from the frat house to clear my head for a minute when I came across you and you seemed...troubled. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Well as you can see, I'm just peachy so you can go ahead and head back to the house now."

"If you're so okay then why are you out here all by yourself?"

Irritated Caroline shuffled her feet in the gravel hoping that if she didn't answer for a while, he would get impatient like most guys did with her and leave her the fuck alone like they all eventually did. Unfortunately for her this guy didn't seem to be going away as he sat by her searching in his coat pockets until he found what he was looking for and pulled out a package of cigarettes taking one for himself before offering her one. She shook her head know as he lit his up causing the smell of smoke to drift between the two of them.

"Bad habit?" she asked pointing to the package of cigarettes. She figured if he wasn't going to leave anytime soon, she at least should do what Elena had asked of her and be social for once. Even if it was with some random person who she knew nothing about and had never seen around. Then again Mystic Falls was a big town, he could have been a native and she would have never noticed him until now.

"One of many." he answered with a smile as he gestured to her bottle of vodka. "What about you? Any bad habits that a stranger should be made aware of?"

"Well I don't know if you can tell but I love grabbing bottles of vodka after punching people out at parties before exiting to the solidarity of the train tracks so I can meet strangers who may or may not be serial killers."

"Haha. I guess I'll give you that one. But for your information, I'm not a serial killer unless I have a split personality who overtakes me when I don't know it and kills people."

Caroline wasn't sure why she gave him at least a chuckle for that, but despite her foul mood earlier she had to admit talking to this mystery guy was making her night a little bit more bearable then when it had originally started.

"Well obviously you're a funny guy when I'm toasted off my ass so since I'll probably never see you again after this. What is the name of this mysterious stranger I've been talking to."

"The name's Klaus. And yours?"

"Caroline." she said taking a sip of her bottle. The burning in her throat seeming like just a nuisance now.

"So, I take it one of your parents was a Neil Diamond fan?"

"Actually no, My parents just liked the name Caroline so that's what I got stuck with."

"I'm sorry that must be very annoying for you at times. I couldn't imagine what you go through sometimes."

"Well with a name like Klaus I couldn't imagine you could know how that feels, but it's not as bad as you may think. Sometimes it's even comforting."

"How so?"

Caroline bit her lip searching Klaus's face for any tattle tale of mistrust for him. That was the worst part of people you never knew if you could trust them or not.

Noticing her silence, Klaus coughed taking another drag of his cigarette before stumping it out. Now that she caught a couple of glimpses of him in the moonlight, she had to admit he really was beautiful. A guy that most girls (Elena included) would have swooned over.

His curly blonde hair rested at his ears as the flashes of smile that she had seen previously in these conversations revealed that Klaus had dimples. And when she looked at him those dimples would light up the blue-green of his eyes that made hers pale in comparison even though multiple arguments had told her that everyone had loved her eyes. No matter how much she thought she thought it made her like everyone else she had seen before. Elena would always tell her to shut up about her whining about her eyes because she always thought her hair was the prettiest shade of blonde she had ever seen, but Caroline hadn't argued with her about it no matter how much she may have wanted to. She just would always chalk it up to the fact that everyone hated at least one thing about themselves and left it at that. She wondered if Klaus had that one insecurity. She wondered if she would ever get to ask.

"You know you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I would never want someone to tell me something that would make them feel uncomfortable."

"No. It's okay. I-I just have trouble opening up to a lot of people sometimes. You know?"

"No, I get it. Like I said I wouldn't want you to tell me anything you didn't want to tell me, but I would be honored if you ever did."

"Thanks for that. I really do appreciate it."

"Tell you what. Since trust is a problem for most people, let's make a compromise."

"What did you have in mind?"

"How about we get to know each other a little bit better. I'll tell you one of my big secrets if you tell me one of yours."

"Alright that seems fair, but what if my secret isn't as big as yours is going to be?"

"Well then how about I go first and then you could decide what secret you find worthy of sharing."

"Sounds like a good idea."

"Alright. I'll start with two icebreakers that anyone could know about me and then I'll expose my big secret."

"Need a little liquid courage?" she asked shaking the bottle.

"I probably shouldn't, but thanks for offering."

"No problem."

Klaus smiled at her as he took a breath getting ready to be open with her.

"Okay my name is Klaus Mikaleson. I'm eighteen years old and I have six siblings who moved with me here from Louisiana. And a thing that not many people know about me is that I have a two-year-old daughter who I love more than life itself."

"Your joking, right?" she asked getting taken aback.

She knew that teen pregnancy happened all the time and she even had even met a few of Elena's friends who had had kids, but she never thought she would meet one on her own. Much less be exposing a trade secret to one.

He smiled exposing those dimples to her as he reached back into his coat pocket and produced his wallet pulling something out and handing it to her. She looked down and saw a picture of a girl who could be no more than two years of age smiling back at her. The girl had auburn hair and blue eyes with a few teeth that she had probably developed over time. She had to admit that she was adorable.

"She is pretty adorable. Do you take care of her by yourself?"

"My family helps most days, but overall it's just me and Hope."

"What about her mom?"

"She's not really in the picture at the moment."

"What happened to her?"

"I don't really think I'm ready to get all into that just yet if you don't mind."

"Perfectly understandable. I'm sorry if I pushed."

"We're all human. Trust me when I say it's okay."

"Well if it's any conception I'm glad that you're taking care of your daughter."

"I am too. I really don't understand how any parent can leave their child. I couldn't imagine my life without her."

Caroline smiled feeling the warmth flood to her cheeks. How the hell did this guy get more attractive to her in just a matter of minutes?

"So, what about you mystery girl? What's your secret?"

Taking a sip of her liquid courage, Caroline decided on what to tell him and sat down on the ground pulling at the grass that was there.

"I pretend that everything in my life is okay, but the truth is I've been miserable ever since my dad died two years ago."

"I'm sorry for your loss. Losing someone, especially a parent is never easy."

Caroline nodded not sure what to say as she took another drink of the bottle.

"So, what brought you out here? I thought you'd be over there enjoying the party like the rest of our peers."

"I'm not really one for parties."

"Then why did you come? If I may ask."

"I actually came here with my best friend."

"How did you end up over here?"

"I pissed her off and I came here to avoid the drama and try to find out how to get home now."

"She just left you at this party by yourself?"

"Actually, she's still in there. I just pissed her off so much that she told me to find my own way home."

"How did you manage that?"

"I may have implied that she was just here to suck some guys dick and then she got mad."

"Oh. Tough break. Do you still need a ride home?"

"Are you offering?"

"I would hate to leave a pretty girl like yourself out here to hang on the train tracks until morning. So what do you say? Can I take you home?"

"Are you sure you're not a serial killer?"

"Promise."

"I guess I have nothing to lose."

"Shall we?"

Caroline smiled and followed Klaus to his car hoping that she would be safe when she was with him.

"It's the second house on the left." Caroline indicated as Klaus turned into her driveway happy that she finally was safe at home.

"Thank you for the ride. I really do appreciate it."

"Well I couldn't leave you out in the forest like that. I have to be an example for my daughter and I can't be if I leave people in shitty situations. I've done it before and I'll never do it again."

"Whatever the reason I'm glad that I met you tonight. "

"I hope that we can meet again. You seem like the type of girl I can get used to seeing every day."

"Same. I guess I better get inside now."

"Caroline-"

"Yes?"

Before she could even tell what was happening, his lips were on hers giving her one gentle kiss that only seemed to last a second before he pulled away leaving her stunned.

"Don't let them take your light away. You're more important to people than you give yourself credit for."

"Thanks for the ride." She said as she hurried out of the car and into her house wondering what the hell she had just gotten herself into.