Touching down in California was strange for Caroline. She hadn't been further than Richmond away from Mystic Falls since she was six; so knowing she was on the opposite side of the country was doing a number on her. Bill and Stephen owned houses in both San Francisco and in the Pebble Beach area near the school. Bill travelled a lot for work, so having the two houses was worth it. Stephen worked at the academy in Pebble Beach, so he was usually based there, but would sometimes visit Bill in the city on weekends if Bill hadn't been to the beach in a while.
"We'll drive to Pebble Beach tomorrow morning. We'll visit the uniform store, and we can get your stationary and other things you'll need for school. Is that okay, Sweetie?"
"Umm, yeah." Caroline was feeling empty. She couldn't smell Mystic Falls, and the air felt different. How could air feel different? She felt disconnected from her home, her friends and, especially, her mother. She just felt empty. "I'm just going to go to bed, Dad."
"But you haven't eaten. I can whip you something up?" Bill asked awkwardly. Caroline had been mostly hostile towards him since he came back into her life. But tonight she just seemed too hollow care.
"It's okay, I just want to sleep. Long journey. Long day. Long week. Long year if I'm honest. Wears a girl out. Night." Caroline strode to the guest bedroom and quickly changed into her pyjamas before turning the light off and collapsing on the bed.
She lay silently for hours, waiting for sleep to take over. She hadn't slept well in a long time. Every time she was almost there, she'd think about her mother, and how she couldn't go to her and ask for warm milk to help her sleep, like she used to, or she'd feel guilty that she was sleeping instead of honouring Liz's memory.
Liz had dedicated her life the helping people through the police force. Caroline wanted to help people too. She just wasn't sure how yet. Finally she drifted off to sleep. She would usually get a few hours a night, but it couldn't sustain forever. Not sleeping well, and keeping emotions hidden away all day really wore her down. Caroline knew she'd crash eventually; she was just waiting for it to happen, and hoping she was alone when it came.
xxx
The next morning Bill, Stephen and Caroline made the two-hour drive from San Francisco to Pebble Beach. The drive was pleasant enough Bill even let Caroline pick the music, which made Caroline grin deviously as she put on the Spice Girls, trying to rile her Dad up. Her plan backfired slightly when both Stephen and Bill started singing along with her.
"IF YOU WANNA BE MY LOVER, YOU GOTTA GET WITH MY FRIENDS! MAKE IT LAST FOREVER FRIENDSHIP NEVER ENDS" the three sang in unison.
Caroline honestly couldn't remember a time where she'd actually enjoyed herself with her Dad. But she had to admit it was kind of nice.
"IF YOU WANNA BE MY LOVER!"
As the song ended for the third time that trip, all three of them were laughing and getting to the outskirts of the city.
"Well, this is it Kiddo," Stephen said, "Pebble Beach, home of Clint Eastwood, and a famous golf course. Although why anyone would play golf is beyond me. If I wanted to drive 18 holes I'd go to a bar!"
Caroline let out an unladylike snort at that and Bill exclaimed "Stephen! Inappropriate! Caroline isn't even 18 yet!"
"The truth isn't appropriate, Honey. And, as Caroline isn't 18 yet, she should be learning all the life lessons before she's an adult!"
As Stephen finished they pulled up in front of a small little beach shack that looked like it should have been in a movie. "This is home," said Stephen happily. "And baby, is it good to be back."
Caroline stiffened slightly at that. She wasn't home. Home was 2000 miles away. Though the last two hours had been surprisingly nice for being so far away from home. But she shook that thought off. She couldn't betray Liz like that. Mystic Falls was always going to be home.
"Just put your things down in the guest bedroom, Honey, you'll be moving into the boarding house tomorrow."
"Don't remind me," Caroline groaned and turned to her Dad. "Are we going to go to the shops? And get my uniform?"
Bill gave Caroline a sidelong glance. "Sweetie," he started tentatively, "I have to do some work. I've been slacking off for the last few weeks. Do you mind going with Stephen?"
"Seriously, Dad? Is Stephen going to become the new 'mom'? Palm me off onto someone else because you have to work? And here I was thinking we could actually have a relationship now, sorry my mistake. Don't worry about it Stephen, just give me directions, a credit card and lend me the car and I'll go by myself."
"It's okay, I don't mind going with you," Stephen said.
"I will go by myself," Caroline reiterated. Bill and Stephen both sighed but gave in, and after getting her directions and picking up the keys, she was off.
xxx
After picking up all her school supplies, her new school shoes (she bought two pairs of navy oxfords, they were so cute she could have fallen over, and, hello, Bill was paying) plus a few extra things she wanted for her room at school, Caroline made her way to the uniform shop, which was on the very boarder of the school campus.
She'd never had to wear uniform before, but after looking around the store she realised it could have been worse. There was no plaid, or funny patterns, just plain navy blue.
In the car that morning, Stephen had told her that the skirt, blazer, socks and tie were compulsory as was the button down white shirt. The skirt, shirt and socks were to be worn daily and the blazers were optional on a day-to-day basis, but needed for formal school events. Other than those items students had the option of also purchasing a Forman Academy sweater, cardigan, winter coat as well as other assorted items of clothing.
"Make up is to be minimal and exactly match your skin tone. No eye make up, or lipstick. Shoes are to be navy and/or white and lace up, with little to no heel," Stephen said.
Caroline rolled her eyes remembering the conversation. Like wearing sandals instead of 'navy and/or white and lace up' shoes was going to make a difference to her education.
"You'll also have to get a uniform for gym class, which is just the school sweats, t-shirt and shorts. You wear it for gym, obviously, but also any extracurricular sports you play. Oh, you'll also need a house shirt"
"House, like in Harry Potter?" Caroline interrupted.
"Yeah! Like that! You do inter-house sports. Which reminds me, you're in Knight House, with me!"
Caroline rolled her eyes again. She was perfectly capable of choosing her own sports clothes. She didn't need anyone telling her that if she wanted to play sport at this school she'd have to wear a specific uniform.
Caroline quickly tried it all on (damn, navy blue looked good on her), paid and made her way out.
As she left the shop she noticed a boy, sitting on one of the benches, sketching. He had an uncaring air about him, was extremely attractive and looked up when she walked out of the shop. Caroline felt her face flush as she noticed his unfaltering stare, but merely smiled as she past him before averting her eyes.
"You're new here, sweetheart."
When she heard the voice, Caroline slowed her pace and looked over her shoulder. The boy was still looking at her, a little smirk playing on his lips. His words had been a statement, rather than a question.
"Yeah, I am" Caroline replied simply, smiled again, and turned back to finish the trek to her car.
About four seconds later, the boy had fallen in step beside her. He smelt beautiful, a mix of acrylic paint and cologne that made Caroline almost giddy by smelling. He went to take her bags from her hand.
"Hey!"
"It's polite for a gentleman to carry bags for a lady if they happen to be walking together," the boy stated matter-of-factly.
"Oh right. I'm new." She couldn't help that pesky flush flooding her cheeks again. His accent was divine, and she had definitely noticed the heat that sparked through her when their hands touched. "But you already knew that. Duh." She smiled, while groaning internally.
"Nik," the boy said holding out his hand for her to shake, "I've been at Forman since I was 12. I honestly think you're the first new student we've had in our grade since the middle of grade eight."
Caroline groaned out loud this time. "So I have to start at a new school, and try make friends with people who have had their cliques established for the last two years? Wonderful."
Nik hadn't said it to make her nervous. He saw this beautiful creature walk out of the store carrying a bag full of uniform, and he knew he had to talk to her. She had long creamy legs that seemed to never stop, gorgeous curves, perfect bouncy blonde curls, and then there was the face. Nik thought it should be illegal to have a body like that and a face to match. So he had talked to her. He really hadn't been trying to make her uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry for making you nervous, love. I think you'll be fine. Being cooped up with the same people for too long makes us all wish we had a new student every now and then." He gave her an encouraging smile that flashed two cute dimples her way.
"I'm just so freaked out, you know? I mean, this time last week I didn't even know I was coming here and now I am and, I don't know how it's going to go. I'd never been out of Virginia except for once before coming here, and now I'm living here! In California! I just can't believe it, it's really nerve wracking." Caroline stopped abruptly when she saw the smirk was back on Nik's face. "I'm sorry, Nik, I'm rambling. I don't know why I'm even talking to you. You probably don't want to hear about my drama."
Nik chuckled. "You know, sweetheart, I honestly don't think I'd rather hear anything more than you rambling right now." And it was true. Nik had never heard a voice he enjoyed more than her's. It was soft, melodic, and beautiful.
"Oh, well, thanks, I guess." Caroline gave him a small smile. God, Nik thought, how can this person get more beautiful the longer I look at her? "I can't imagine living away from my family since I was 12."
"Trust me, love, this place is a lot better than living with my parents," Nik said bitterly. "This place is practically full of the offspring of men and woman who roll in money. The kids interrupt their golf game, or midlife crisis. This place is a blessing."
"Oh," Caroline said sympathetically. Caroline wanted to say she wasn't one of those people, but wasn't that exactly what Bill was doing to her? "Anyway, I'm really nervous about starting. I've never even had to wear a uniform before!"
Nik chuckled, and Caroline thought it was one of the cutest things she'd ever seen. "Well, the uniform isn't hard to get used to. But honestly, you'll be fine here. Forman is a nice place to go to school. But don't tell anyone I told you that. I have a reputation to uphold. Why did your family decide to send you here?"
Caroline's eyes widened. Nik saw a flash of fear in her eyes at the question. She didn't want to have to go into details about why she was here. She didn't think she could handle telling this beautiful boy the truth of why she was here.
But before she had to answer, a ringing coming interrupted her from her pocket. "Oh, sorry Nik," she said hearing the personalised ringtone. "I want to take this one. Thanks for all your help with my bags. I hope I'll see you tomorrow."
"Anytime, love," he grinned lazily at her, and turned to leave.
But the girl grabbed his arm (and he tried not to notice the electricity that shot through him at her touch) before her could get too far though, "Seriously though, Nik. I'm kind of a nervous wreck. You helped. Thank you."
Their eyes locked for a moment. His stormy grey ones with her ever-changing blue ones, and something passed between them. After a beat, the small smile that had been playing on her lips turned in to a full face, bright, beautiful grin as she turned away from him, and answering her phone.
xxx
Klaus watched the girl answer her phone, thinking he must have hit the jackpot. She didn't know anything about his reputation, or his family or any of his demons. She just talked to him like he was a normal person. To her, he wasn't Klaus Mikaelson, resident bad-boy, deserving victim of the Pierce charm, and total jackass. To her, he was just Nik. He could just be who he really was.
And there was the added bonus that she was beautiful. And when she smiled his heart clenched. He wanted to be the one to make her smile all the time.
He turned around to go, thinking that there would be little that would spoil the happy mood the girl had put him in, that was until she heard her answer her phone.
"Oh my god Stefan! It's only been like 24 hours and I already miss you. Can you please fly here and help me feel like I'm home again!"
Nik's face hardened. How could he be so naïve? The beautiful girl, was, of course already taken. Nik had never taken kindly to being denied things he wanted. He didn't want to hear anymore of the girl with her boyfriend, so he turned on his heel and stalked off. Only then did he realise, he'd never actually found out her name.
xxx
"Oh my god Stefan! It's only been like 24 hours and I already miss you. Can you please fly here and help me feel like I'm home again!"
"I miss you too, Care. How's the Golden State?" Stefan asked.
"It's okay, I guess. I'd much rather be home. Bill has already blown me off once for something we planned, so what's new there? But guess what? I just met someone who goes here, and he was really sweet, and kind, and really attractive as well. Maybe being here won't be all bad, if all the boys are like that." Caroline smiled brightly, for the first time since finding out she was leaving, her situation seemed a little less than completely dark.
"That's good, Care! Look I have to go, Elena wants to hang. But I just wanted to hear how you're first day was going. I'll call you tomorrow too, first night in the boarding house and all."
"I can't believe I'll be in a boarding house that isn't the Salvatore Boarding House. Chat to you tomorrow, Stef!"
"Bye Care!" Stefan said before hanging up.
"I really miss that boy," Caroline said to no one in particular, leaning against the car. A soft autumn breeze blew through her hair, and Caroline smiled softly at the retreating silhouette of her new friend, before hopping in her car and driving off.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Little shorter than last time (sorry) - but it felt right to stop it there.
On updates, I'll try to update maybe every one/two/three days. I'm not really sure how close together you guys would like to read it, but whatever, we'll work it out. :D
Also, holy mackerel guys, thank you all so much for your support. It was lovely. :) YAY! I hope you're all having wonderful days/nights.
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