2. "Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?"

Clock was ticking seven. Sharp. Tyler would be here any second and she still didn't know what to wear. A part of her wanted to look ravishing and gorgeous but a great part of her just didn't care. No, she mustn't think like that. Tyler said he was taking her somewhere nice and special and she had to make an effort. Even if it killed her she had to put a smile on her face. The red one. She'd wear the red dress, Tyler always thought red was her color. She opened her closet looking for it when suddenly her unbeating heart stopped for a second. It was like the whole world stopped for that second and she was looking at … Her beautiful ball gown. The one that Klaus gave to her, the one she wore when they were dancing. When he held her in his arms. She was so rude trying to show she didn't care for one second that she was dancing with the devil but deep down she was all emotions, emotions, emotions. Most of them were sheer confusion of what the hell was going on, but he was such a swift dancer she soon forgot about it and just enjoyed it (not that she would ever admit to that). She had to touch it, her beautiful gown. Because it was indeed hers, it fit her so well; he knew exactly what she would like. As if he knew her … As she touched the dress she closed her eyes and gave herself just a minute to dream and play the game – what if. What if they met in some other life, at the ball, without the hybrid thing, without "you tried to kill my friend's" entire thing, just the two of them and the dance floor? They would feel an instant chemistry and they would dance, dance and dance, like there was no tomorrow. And he would tell her how ravishing she looked and then …

"Caroline honey, Tyler is here."

And just like that her dream had ended. And she felt so guilty for even having it. So guilty and inappropriate. So she put the red dress on, closed her closet as if there were ghosts inside, and went downstairs. Tyler was waiting. Oh, and he looked so nice and sweet, he even bought her flowers. It was truly a new start. But she still felt like she would start crying any second. And Tyler picked up on that while they were having dinner in this gorgeous restaurant, that she knew he hated actually, but brought here just to make her happy.

"Caroline is anything wrong? You've been so quit the entire night. It's so unlike you."

"Everything is fine." She said without even trying to make it convincing, she was just too tiered of trying all the time. If anyone didn't tell you, trying and pretending to be happy is a real pain in the ass.

And then Tyler took her hand and just whispered: "It's still me Care, I know lot of things have happened and how hurt you got getting caught in the crossfire but it's still me. And you can still tell me everything."

She looked into his eyes and produced a small sob. She was so crazy at this point she almost did tell him everything. But at the last minute realized how incredibly stupid that would be. It would put him in danger; something might happen to him if he went to seek Klaus. And a part of her mind that she was trying so desperately to ignore told her: "or something might happen to Klaus." That stupid part of her brain wanted them protected, both of them.

"Care?"

"Let's just dance Tyler. I love this song. Would you dance with me?"

He led her to the dance floor and took her in his arms. Everything was no nice and cozy. He was like an old friend in which she sought comfort.

"Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight?

Are you sorry we drifted apart?

Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day?

When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?"

The next song began and it was a deadly one. She tried to block the words and held Tyler even tighter but the "sweetheart" lingered inside of her. "What I would give for one more "sweetheart." And then she couldn't take it anymore. She started crying. It wasn't like she was sobbing or weeping but the tears just came. She thought of Klaus, alone in his garden, of the way he looked at her, and the tears just came. Tyler didn't realize anything until something wet fell on his shirt.

"Care, sweetie? Are you crying?" She was so close to telling him she was no sweetie but a sweetheart. And almost laughed out loud how silly that sounded. She was so silly, a silly mess.

"It was an overwhelming night. Take me home Tyler, please."

And so he did.

"I had a nice night Caroline; I hope it was nice for you too." ,he said when they were in front of her house.

And he looked so vulnerable when asking this that she felt like such a bitch for thinking about Klaus on their date. But she couldn't help it; her mind was as if no longer hers, didn't want to listen to her. It was as if she was being compelled. Compelled to feel shit she didn't want to feel, and most importantly she could never feel because it was WRONG.

"Of course I had a nice time Tyler. It was beautiful. So beautiful and so nice to have you here with me. I just got a little emotional about it, I'm sorry."

"I don't mind you being emotional. You know how much I like that crazy heart of yours but I just got worried that something might be wrong. With you … Or with us …"

Everything was wrong, she thought, but said nothing.

"So, I better be going." he said and leaned over to kiss her.

Omg, omg, she started panicking. It was her boyfriend, estranged boyfriend but still her boyfriend, leaning to kiss her, and she didn't know what to do. So she moved her head slightly and he ended up kissing her cheek instead of her lips. This was all she could take right now.

"Goodnight Tyler", she said in one breath, and ran, literally ran inside the shelter of her home. But what was it that she was sheltering herself from? A guy that loves her? She really was losing her mind.

"Honey, back so soon?" Her mom was up, waiting for her, I guess. She rarely did that but in this moment Caroline felt it was kind of comforting to have her near.

"Did you and Taylor have a nice time?"

"Yes, it was very nice but I felt a little tiered so he drove me home."

"You aren't sick or anything right? He didn't bite you, right?"

So this was the real reason mom was waiting up. She still didn't trust Tyler, and who could have blamed her after watching her daughter almost die. Because of him. And Klaus, she thought, and nearly the thought of his name brought her pain again.

"No mom, he's over the biting part, for good. He is not sired anymore. He's free."

And then her mom did something that she rarely did, she hugged her said: "Ok then, I just want you to be happy Caroline. It is madness outside but still, I want you to be happy."

She went to her room and thought about what her mother said: "I just want you to be happy Caroline."

She wanted it too but at this moment it seemed so far.

She looked in the mirror. Everything was still there. The blond hair, the green eyes, her smile, it was still here but as if she was fading away. Happiness seemed so far. This wasn't the Caroline Forbes she once new – the cheerleader, the Miss Mystic Falls, an optimistic girl that made being a bitch kind of cute. But she didn't want to think about it now. Tomorrow, maybe. It really has been a long day. The only thing she wanted was to go to bed and have a dream- free sleep. She opened her dresser to get the brush to brush her hair before sleep, something she had always done. And there it stood. The drawing Klaus had made for her. In all its beauty and shine. And she remembered just what she thought the second the saw it for the first time at the night of the infamous ball. She thought how there is much more to Klaus then anybody could ever imagine. She thought there could be a man behind the monster. And she thought he could change if only given a chance. And she wasn't wrong, by giving Taylor his freedom back he had shown he could feel. And hurt, she thought when remembering how he looked tonight when he saw her.

"I just want you to be happy Caroline." "Genuine beauty should be happy." lingered in her mind.

She looked in the mirror once more and saw it. The Caroline Forbes she was meant to be. And knew … She needed to see him … At once …


Ok,here's the second chapter ... Sorry there is not really a Klaroline in it but I thought it was important to show Caroline's struggle with her emotions ... But the next chapter, that I'll hopefully publish tomorrow, is going to be all about Klaroline, I promise ... Hope you enjoy this and hope for some reviews ... :)