Wow! Massive thank you to everyone who read/reviewed/followed the first chapter yesterday! I'm glad you all seem really excited about the story :)
Just a little sidenote: Any of the travel stuff you see that I've written, is based solely on the things I've Googled. Unfortunuately, I've never been to Europe so I don't know what's cool there. Caroline's cluelessness parallels mine when it comes to what to see and do. But Klaus's art love...I may have taught him a thing or two ;)
Enjoy!
"You're late," Elijah said as Klaus rushed in.
"LA traffic," Klaus replied.
"You should have been here two hours ago. I have us on another flight. It leaves at ten."
"Time for a drink then," Klaus said, brushing past his brother and heading for the terminal bar.
"It's 8 o'clock in the morning," Elijah chastised.
"I'll order something with orange juice then."
Klaus took a seat at the bar and ordered a screwdriver.
"Sir we don't serve alcohol until after ten," the bartender replied.
Klaus narrowed his eyes. "Do you know who I am?" The bartender nodded. "Fantastic. Screwdriver. Make it a double."
The bartender turned away, defeated, and prepared Klaus's drink.
"Very humble brother," Elijah said.
"No point in being famous if you can't cash in on the perks," Klaus replied, laying down a few bills for his drink. "So where is the demon in heels? I'm surprised she's not here scowling at me too."
"Katherine wasn't invited on this trip," Elijah replied.
"Trouble in paradise?"
Elijah cleared his throat uncomfortably. "You know she and I are not together anymore."
"And yet you still keep her around."
"She's good at her job. It's strictly business."
Klaus nodded, though he was still skeptical, and took a sip of his drink.
Elijah pulled his laptop out of his carry on and set it up on the bar, "I have to get some work done."
Klaus watched Elijah turn on the computer and pull up a website on the screen. The colors flashed pink and bright, loud and scandalous headlines shouting out for their attention. Klaus chuckled. "I didn't take you for a celebrity gossip junkie brother."
"I would't laugh too hard," Elijah said, turning the screen toward him. Klaus read the headline.
"Beauty and the Bad Boy, a match made in heaven," Klaus read, underneath were two candid paparazzi photos; one of himself and next to it one of Elena Gilbert.
"The two met after one of his shows in Hollywood our sources say," Caroline read from the gossip rag she purchased before boarding, "In spite of being polar opposites, the unlikely pair have seem to hit it off. Niklaus will be following his new girlfriend around Europe this summer as she promotes her new movie, due out later this month. Will Hollywood's golden girl be able to polish up music's tarnished bad boy? Only time will tell."
"God those tabloids move fast," Elena mused.
A couple hours later they landed in New York. Caroline and Elena collected their luggage and hailed a cab. They were staying in Manhattan for the evening before heading across the pond the next morning. Caroline was excited to be in the city. She had never been to New York before.
Her face was plastered to the cab window as they sailed down Broadway toward their hotel. She marveled at the buildings and stores and people. When they arrived, they met Elena's manager in the lobby.
"Hey Jenna," Elena said giving the woman a gigantic hug. Jenna Sommers had been Elena's manager since she had started acting. She wasn't that much older than them, so Jenna would come hang out in Mystic Falls from time to time when Elena visited. Elena always said she was like the older sister or cool aunt she never had.
"Elena I missed you," she said squeezing her back, "and Caroline, great to see you again. So glad you'll be joining us this summer."
"Hi Jenna," Caroline returned. The three of them gathered up the luggage and checked in, heading up to their suite.
Caroline's jaw dropped at the size of the room. It was huge. It was more like an apartment than a hotel room. There was a living area, dressed in soothing pastel colors with sleek looking couches. A state of the art entertainment center hung against the wall, with a surround sound stereo. On the other end of the suite was a wet bar, complete with stylish martini glasses and a stainless steel mini fridge. Further back, Caroline could see through to the bedroom. A very comfortable looking king-sized bed awaited them, topped with a dozen colorful pillows in different fabrics and textures. Outside was a gorgeous view of the New York City skyline.
"We have to share a room tonight," Elena said, "but for the rest of the tour we'll be in adjoined suites. So you'll have your own space."
"No this is fine. It's great!" Caroline replied with enthusiasm.
"So where is my new boyfriend?" Elena asked Jenna.
"I know it sucks," Jenna replied, "but it is free press for you."
"Yeah and good for the charity," Elena said. It sounded like she had been through this conversation already. "So when do I get to meet the new love of my life? Since according to US Weekly, we've already been spotted canoodling at LA's hottest music venues."
Caroline and Jenna laughed together as Jenna scrolled through her blackberry to pull up Elena's schedule. "Well he missed his flight out of LA this morning, otherwise you would be meeting him for lunch."
"Hmm, no couth when it comes to punctuality definitely sounds like my dream man."
Jenna gave her a wry look. "You're meeting him for dinner tonight instead."
"Fine," Elena replied, "Caroline do you wanna come?"
"Won't I be third wheeling?" Caroline asked.
Elena shrugged. "It's not a real date and I'm sure we'll need the buffer."
"Ok," Caroline agreed, "count me in."
Caroline and Elena spent the rest of the day shopping on Fifth Avenue. A few fans would stop them every now and then, wanting to take pictures with Elena or get her autograph. Elena was very kind and gracious to everyone who said hello to her. Caroline found it a little overwhelming. She had never gone out with Elena anywhere other than in Mystic Falls, and everyone there left her alone. But out about in the public eye was a whole different world. Still, they managed to have a nice day.
They sat in the lobby bar of the hotel, enjoying a glass of wine, waiting for Elena's "boyfriend" to meet them. Jenna had called them earlier saying that Niklaus had made it to New York and the hotel in one piece and that he would be meeting them downstairs at exactly 8 o'clock p.m. to take them to dinner.
The girls sat there, both in new dresses they had purchased that day, waiting for the man of the hour to show his face.
"What time is it," Caroline asked smoothing out her dress. It was a black and white fringe dress, very hip and very New York, paired with her new black booties. Updating her wardrobe made her feel like she belonged more in the celebrity crowd with Elena. She felt less like a country-bumpkin thanks to her new clothes.
"Shoot I left my phone upstairs," Elena said, "do you mind if I go get it?"
Caroline shook her head, taking a sip of wine. "No, I'll wait here."
"Ok, two seconds," Elena said dashing off toward the elevators.
Caroline studied the crowd in the bar and continued to nurse her glass of Moscato while she waited for Elena to return. Gentle piano music mixed into the din of the conversation in the bar. Everyone looked so different from the people that inhabited Mystic Falls. They all seemed more worldly and mysterious. Men in black suits, women with their high heels and red lips, everyone drinking and flirting and laughing. She wondered what each of them were doing in the hotel, where they were from, and what their stories were.
"Hello there," she heard someone say next to her. She turned toward the deep English-accented voice and looked up at the man it was coming from, recognizing him immediately. "Have we met before?"
Klaus headed downstairs, grateful to be away from Elijah. At this point he would be willing to date the queen herself just to get his brother off his back. Elijah had done nothing but nag him all day long about cleaning himself up and being more respectful and not drinking so much. Klaus didn't see the point in any of this. He didn't understand how this plan of Elijah's was going to work. No one was going to give a damn about who he was dating, Elena Gilbert or otherwise. He was a fuck-up and he would always be a fuck-up.
But he did clean himself up a bit. The bruises on his face were fading fast and the cut he'd had on his lip was barely noticeable now. He had taken the time to shave and put on some new clothes that Katherine had sent to his suite for him, since he hadn't had time to pack in LA. She was a bitch, but at least she had style, and hadn't picked out anything that was completely heinous. He'd chosen a black pair of jeans, a white Henley t-shirt, and a black vest. A few necklaces that he usually donned were visible through the open neck of his shirt.
He walked out of the lift and headed toward the bar, where he was supposed to be meeting his "girlfriend." From that moment on, they would be pretending. They would be under constant watch out in public, paparazzi could be around at any moment, so he would have to play the part of smitten lover.
"You want to be an actor," Elijah had said, "so act. Consider it an exercise."
Klaus strolled up to the bar and looked around. Even though he had never met Elena before, he knew what she looked like. He'd have to have been living under a rock not to know Elena Gilbert. She had taken the world by storm with her dark, angelic looks and self-righteous ways, but he didn't see what the big deal was about her. His eyes scanned the bar crowd but he didn't spot her. He did however see a rather fetching blonde sitting alone. She was holding on to a glass of white wine, looking out at the crowd. Klaus watched her watching the people. She had such an amusing look on her pretty face.
His approach was slow and calculating. It never paid to seem too eager. As he moved toward her he wondered if she might be with someone. Maybe she had a boyfriend or a date. Not that something like that had ever stopped him before when he was in pursuit of a woman. However, there was a slim change that a girl that beautiful could be unattached. He stood next to her, but she didn't seem to notice him. Odd.
"Hello there," he said and she turned to him, flashing her baby blue eyes in his direction. Once her full attention was on him, he gave her a winning smile. "Have we met before?"
"No," she replied, "I think I'd remember."
"Niklaus Mikaelson," he said extending his hand, "my friends call me Klaus."
"Caroline Forbes," she returned, "and I know who you are."
"You've heard of me? Fantastic," he replied.
"Well I'd have to have been living under a rock for the past few years not to know who you are," she quipped.
Klaus chuckled. She was fiery. He liked that. "Can I buy you a drink?"
She raised her wine glass in his direction. "I'm good for now, thanks."
Klaus raised his hand to the bartender and ordered a scotch. The man laid the drink in front of him and Klaus leaned up against the bar, facing Caroline. From across the room he thought she was beautiful, but up close she was absolutely stunning. Her features were soft and round, innocent yet alluring. His eyes travelled over her, from the top of her golden head down to her slim, fine legs that were crossed one over the other.
"So come here often?"
She laughed. "Do you have any lines that don't come straight out of a 1950s dating book?"
"Well love, old tricks are the best tricks."
One of her eyebrows curled up. "Is that so?"
"It is," he reaffirmed, " so tell me what brings you to New York? Business or pleasure?"
"Well I'm here for my friend's business, but my pleasure," she replied.
"I'm intrigued," Klaus replied leaning closer toward her, "what does your friend do?"
"Oh you might have heard of her. She's an actress."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Quite famous," Caroline replied.
"Well love I'm sure she's nothing compared to you."
Caroline laughed. Their faces were close; Klaus could feel her breath on his lips as she giggled. She was jelly in his hand, he could already tell. Perhaps he would ditch Elena, make apologies, and spend the night listening to this blonde moan his name. He let his hand drop to her knee, his fingers caressing her smooth skin. She looked down at his hand and then back up at him, arching an eyebrow.
"Well maybe you'll get the chance to meet her," Caroline purred.
Klaus's eyebrows moved up a fraction. He was ok with that. "You know what they say," he said, "three's a party."
Caroline pulled away from him. "Oh look, here she is now. Hey Elena, look who decided to show up."
Klaus stood up and turned around, coming face to face with Caroline's "friend" and his new "girlfriend", Elena Gilbert.
Caroline almost burst out laughing. The look on his smug face was priceless when he turned around and saw Elena. In any other situation, Caroline would have felt bad for shamelessly flirting with her friend's boyfriend, but this wasn't a real relationship so she didn't feel the least bit guilty. Besides Niklaus, or Klaus as he told her to call him, deserved the little trick. She couldn't believe what a dog he was, hitting on some woman in a bar when he was supposed to be meeting another woman for a date. Real relationship or not, that was just plain rude.
Elena, ever so calm and cool, extended her hand to Klaus and introduced herself. "Elena Gilbert, good to meet you."
Klaus accepted her handshake. "Klaus. I guess I'll be your boyfriend for the next few months," his reply was formal, without a hint of the mischief that had been there when he introduced himself to Caroline, "shall we?"
"My friend Caroline is coming with us. I hope that's ok."
Klaus spared Caroline a passing glance. "Fine by me. Perhaps I'll call my brother down and we can make this a foursome instead. I'm sure it will make things less awkward."
"Sounds good," Elena nodded, "I'll go grab a cab."
Klaus returned her nod and spun away, pulling his phone out of his pocket lifting it to his ear as he went. Caroline watched him. There definitely weren't any immediate sparks between Klaus and Elena.
"So that wasn't too bad," Caroline said following Elena out to the valet stand.
"I guess not," Elena replied.
A few moments later, Klaus appeared, followed by another man. He was dressed in a suit and tie, his perfectly coiffed brown hair swept back away from his face. The man was a stark contrast to Klaus's rugged, leather, rock and roll style.
"Ladies, this is my publicist and brother, Elijah Mikaelson, Elijah this is Elena Gilbert and her friend, Caroline Forbes."
His brother? Caroline studied the man as she shook his hand. The two of them didn't look anything alike.
"Wonderful to meet you," Elijah smiled.
Just then a yellow cab pulled up next to the curb and the four of them got in, with Elijah taking the front. Caroline sat in the middle between Klaus and Elena. She wasn't sure how she had gotten stuck in that particular seat.
"Where to?" The cabbie asked in a thick accent.
Klaus spoke up. "Where was it that you made reservations again Elijah?"
"Zapatista," Elijah answered, giving the driver the address.
The four of them sat in silence on the cab ride over. When the car stopped, they filed out and Elijah paid the driver then stepped up to guide them into the restaurant. The place was quite busy.
The restaurant was an upscale Mexican cantina. The walls were beige and brick, with green, red and blue geometric décor. The low light gave the atmosphere a warm amber glow. Every table seemed to be filled. Caroline wondered how they were going to get a seat. She hoped they wouldn't have to wait for long. Her stomach and been growling during the ride over.
"Reservation for Mikaelson," Elijah said to the hostess.
The woman wore a sleek white dress, with a red belt. It was much more chic than a typical Tex-Mex restaurant in Mystic Fall where the waiters wore cheesy sombreros and bolo ties.
"Of course Mr. Mikaelson. We have you at our star table. Please follow me."
They followed the hostess through the restaurant to one of the elevated booths near the back. Caroline and Elena stepped up on one side of the booth, while Klaus and Elijah slid in on the other, putting Elena and Klaus in the middle next to each other. The waiter came to their table and introduced himself, handing out menus and listing off specials for the night.
"Can I take your drink orders to get you started?"
"I'll take a scotch," Klaus said before anyone else.
"He'll have a seltzer," Elijah corrected. Caroline saw Klaus glared at Elijah.
"Scotch," he repeated, "make it a double."
Elijah gave the nervous looking waiter a polite smile, "Could you please give us a few moments?"
Caroline threw Elena a look and Elena shrugged.
"So Klaus, have you been to Europe before," Elena asked cracking open her menu.
"I'm from England love, of course I've been to Europe."
"So what's your favorite city?"
"Paris. Rome. The Italians know how to have a good time." Klaus's eyes remained on the menu as he answered.
"Klaus spent some time studying art in Prague when we were younger," Elijah interjected.
"Really?" Elena said, "Are you an artist?"
"No, I'm a musician. One who is trying to break into the acting business and is in desperate need of a scotch."
"If you want to be an actor, why don't you at least act like you're interested in what Miss Gilbert has to say?" Elijah chided.
"Elijah do you think you could possibly inject any more romance into this scenario than you already have?" Klaus scoffed. "I could do it better with a scotch."
Elijah closed his menu and set it down. "Very well, if you would like romance…Caroline?" Caroline's head snapped up in attention. She had been focusing on her menu, hoping to stay out of the crossfire. "Would you care to join me at the bar for a drink? Give my brother and Elena some time to get to know one another."
Caroline looked over at Elena who gave her a small smile, telling her to go ahead.
"Sure," Caroline replied, slipping out of the booth and following Elijah over to the bar. They each took over two vacant white bar stools. Caroline set her clutch bag on top of the bar and the bartender approached them.
"Can I get a glass of Pinot and…?"
"Pinot is fine for me as well. Thanks," she replied.
"So Caroline, what do you do?" Elijah asked once they had their drinks.
"I work for the Mayor's office in Mystic Falls. Mostly planning events and things for the town," she answered.
"Do you enjoy your work?"
Caroline shrugged. "It gives me something to do and pays the bills. How long have you been Klaus's publicist?"
Elijah smirked. "Oh I've been running around after Klaus and cleaning up his messes all our lives."
"So this whole thing with Elena, would be you cleaning up another mess?"
"Yes," Elijah said, "Klaus doesn't understand that he can't just flit around doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants. He doesn't understand that there are consequences for his actions. I'm trying to prevent him from suffering any of those consequences."
Caroline nodded thoughtfully, taking a sip of her wine. "Maybe that's the problem."
Klaus sat there next to Elena, watching Elijah and Caroline at the bar. He wondered what they were discussing. No doubt Elijah was telling Caroline how out of control he was, getting the girl to be on his side. Then the three of them could gang up on him and attempt to teach him the manners Elijah so wished for him to cultivate.
"Thank you for the money you gave to my charity," Elena said pulling his attention back to her, "it was very generous of you."
"That was my brother's doing. Not mine." Klaus sulked. The waiter came back to check on them and Klaus was able to order the scotch he wanted.
"I don't think Elijah wants you to be drinking," Elena remarked.
"He usually doesn't," Klaus replied, taking a long gulp of the alcohol, "but he's not here to stop me."
"If you're not going to take this seriously—"
"Take what seriously?" Klaus said sitting up and looking at her, "our fake relationship? Look sweetheart, we'll hold hands in public, I'll smile with you in photos, and escort you to events and we'll look like a perfectly happy couple. A match made in Hollywood."
"You think that's all that this is Klaus? We have to actually look like we're in love. I mean you're sitting there sulking while people are starring at us. Not exactly great for our story."
"No one is watching us," Klaus replied.
"Oh really? Look around."
Klaus scanned the restaurant. He noticed more than a few nervous eyes flick away as they met his gaze. He looked back over to Elena, who had an I-told-you-so expression on her face.
"Fair enough," he conceded, "so what's the plan then love?"
"Maybe we should at least try to get to know one another," Elena suggested.
"I don't see the point," Klaus said, "but don't worry love. I don't ever know much about any of the women I date."
"Don't sound so proud," she muttered.
Klaus reached over and put his arm on the back of the seat around her, his other hand coming up and brushing her hair behind her ear. He smiled and purred into her ear. "Look, I can play for the cameras, if that is what you want me to do, but there is no reason we need to be friends. We're different people, you and I."
Klaus's voice was thick with charm, but his words were empty and cold. He watched Elena's expression change from disgusted to flirtatious in less than a second. She touched the top of his arm gently, and looked into his eyes. She was all in now, playing the game too. And she was very good at it, but Klaus felt nothing.
"Fine with me."
Dinner turned out to be horrible and awkward, according to Elena. Caroline had spent the rest of the evening with Elijah. They had left the new couple alone to get to know one another, while they ate their dinners at the bar. Elijah was pleasant; the conversation consisted of nothing but small talk and comments about the weather and plans for the tour. The four of them had split ways as soon as they made it back to the hotel. Once they had gotten up to their room Elena had ranted and raved about Klaus nonstop.
"He's rude and selfish and an asshole," Elena complained, " There's not a single good thing about him. I can't believe Jenna got me into this mess. He's going to screw us both I just know it."
Caroline sat, crossed legged on the bed watching Elena pace back and forth. "Well he seems to hate the whole situation as much as you do," she mused.
"Well he should at least do me the courtesy of being professional about it!"
"Elena," Caroline said in effort to calm her down, "professional? Ok, he's a person. This is supposed to be a relationship. You guys are going to have to work together eventually."
Elena scoffed. "Whatever. I can pretend when we're out in public but other than that I don't want anything to do with him. You weren't sitting with him having to put up with his scotch soaked attitude through an entire dinner."
Caroline shrugged. She didn't really know what else to tell Elena. Yeah, Klaus was testy and unnerving, but there really wasn't much to be done. They would just have to make the best out of a bad situation.
After not much sleep, Caroline awoke early the next morning so they could catch their flight to Europe. Their first stop was Berlin. They had a nine-hour flight and then as soon as they landed, Elena would have to get ready for a movie premiere that she was set to attend that evening. It was a long day ahead of them. The car picked them up at the hotel, along with Elijah, Klaus, and Jenna and took them to JFK.
Caroline was sitting across from Klaus on the drive over. He looked tired and hung over in his jeans and gray t-shirt. She had seen him knock back at least three glasses of scotch the night before and there was no telling what he had been drinking when he got back to his hotel room. Before bed last night, Caroline had borrowed Jenna's laptop and had done some Google-ing.
She found out Klaus had been arrested three times: Once for cocaine possession, once for driving under the influence, and the most recent for assault and public intoxication. All three times he received fines and minor jail sentences. In addition to his arrest record, he was constantly a subject of gossip columns for dating and bedding a string of models and actresses all throughout Hollywood. Then there was the music. Half of his shows were cancelled because clubs no longer wanted to deal with his violent outbursts and his fans.
Caroline had no idea why Jenna had ever thought it would a good idea to have Elena hook up with him. They were complete opposites in every way possible. There was no way people would ever believe that the two of them were an item. Elena was so focused and serious about her work and all Klaus seemed to care about was boozing and punching every one he could lay his fists on.
The car dropped them off and the four of them strolled into the busy airport. Klaus remained near Elena, for the sake of appearance. They knew there would be cameras around them once they made it to JFK. Caroline caught a few people out of the corner of her eye snapping cellphone pictures. Klaus stayed with Elena, occasionally holding her hand or throwing his arm around her, until they boarded then disappeared. He wasn't even in his seat during take off. It was amazing, but they did look like a real couple. Caroline had to give them kudos on both of their performances.
"I'm gonna go talk to Jenna for a bit about tonight," Elena said once they were in the air and the captain had switched off the fasten seat belt sign.
"Ok," Caroline smiled, happy to enjoy having their roomy first class seats to herself for a bit. She reached into her bag and pulled out the German guidebook she had purchased in the airport bookstore. She didn't know anything about Germany. Even though they would only be there for a couple days, she still hoped she would have the chance to see some of the more famous sights. But to do that, she needed to figure out what the sights there were to be seen in Berlin.
"What are you reading?"
The voice startled her. She looked over to see Klaus sitting next to her in Elena's vacant seat, the ever-present lazy grin plastered across his face.
"Where did you come from?"
"London, originally. Then kind of all over before my family made their way over to America," he replied.
Caroline shot him a look. "I meant just now. You weren't around for takeoff."
"Oh you noticed that I was gone did you?" Caroline scoffed and his grin grew even bigger. "So what are you reading?"
She flipped the cover toward him. "Exploring Germany. Trying to pick out some things to see while we're there."
"That book is rubbish. I know of a much better way to experience German culture."
"Oh yeah?" Caroline retorted, "and which way is that?"
"With me," he replied. She scoffed again and turned back to her book. "I'm serious love, I've been to Berlin many times. It's one of my all time favorite cities. There are great clubs and bars and nightlife—"
"Not interested," Caroline interrupted, "I'd rather experience the art and culture and history."
"Well I can show you that too."
"Klaus, I need you," Elijah called over to him from his seat a few rows up. Caroline sighed. Saved by the Elijah.
Klaus cast an irritated look in Elijah's direction and then turned to Caroline again. "I'll be right back love."
"I'll be counting the seconds," she quipped.
Caroline was thankful that Elena came back to her seat before he could return and she was able to spend the rest of the flight Klaus-free.
When they landed, Klaus stepped up and played dutiful boyfriend once again, taking Elena's bag from her for the paparazzi to see and the gossip rags to speculate about. He forced himself not to roll his eyes at Elijah's nod of approval as they made their way out of the terminal. That night he accompanied Elena to a movie premiere. He smiled, played his role again on the red carpet and throughout the screening, and then promptly went to get rip roaring drunk at a quiet pub as soon as the event had finished. Screw Elijah and his rules of conduct.
It was early the next morning when Klaus staggered into their Berlin hotel and made his way to the lifts. He had spent the night with a rather delicious Swedish tourist, or was she Swiss? Klaus licked his lips and shook his head. It didn't matter, it wasn't as if he would be seeing her again. He thought he might as well enjoy the easy pickings while he still could. Once more people found out his new "relationship", the whole seduction process would be a little harder to fulfill.
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open to reveal Caroline on the other side. She was dressed in a yellow sundress with a gray cardigan. She frowned as she saw Klaus standing in front of her.
"It's a little early for a rockstar isn't it?" She quipped, "Let me guess…walk of shame?"
Klaus chuckled. "Nothing shameful about it love."
Caroline rolled her eyes, walking into the elevator before the doors shut again. Instead of getting off on their floor, Klaus remained inside, following her down.
"So where are you off to today?"
"Sight seeing," Caroline said.
"My offer still stands," Klaus said, "I could be your guide if you wish."
Caroline ignored him. The elevator reached the lobby, the doors opening once again, this time Elijah was standing on the opposite side.
"Good morning Caroline. Klaus." Elijah greeted them as they exited the elevator. Klaus noticed the judgmental twitch of Elijah's eye, but chose to ignore it. "Where are you off to this morning?"
"I was just going out to do some sight seeing," Caroline repeated.
"And I was just telling Caroline about some great spots I could show her," Klaus added.
"Well that certainly sounds like a marvelous idea," Elijah said, "in fact, if you don't mind, I don't get to spend enough time in Berlin perhaps I'll accompany you."
"Elijah," Klaus said, "you've never been one for sight seeing."
Elijah smiled. "Well I've always enjoyed new experiences. Perhaps Elena would like to come as well?"
Caroline sensed the tension as her gaze shifted between the two brothers. "Sure," she said, "I'll go see if she wants to come."
Caroline walked back into the elevator and headed back upstairs to get Elena, leaving Klaus with Elijah.
"I know what you are trying to do Niklaus," Elijah said.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Leave Caroline alone. I see you hitting on her. She's a nice girl and not here to be your new play thing. Besides, you're supposed to be dating her friend, Elena."
Klaus gave him a tight smile. "How could I forget?"
In the time that it took Caroline to retrieve Elena, Klaus had gone upstairs to change into fresh clothing. He felt like a wreck, not having slept much the night before, but he was making an effort not to look it. He grabbed a double espresso from the coffee bar in the lobby and then the four of them headed out for their sightseeing tour.
Their first stop was the Berlin Cathedral. The four of them got out of the taxi and made their way to the massive building. The brown-gray stone and green domes stood ominously in the middle of the sunny day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Klaus squinted and sighed as they stood at the front and looked up at the building. Cathedrals, while beautiful, were boring to him.
"What the matter?" Caroline nudged him, "Afraid that you'll burst into flames if you go inside?"
Klaus fell in step beside her as walked through the doors. "Cathedrals never interested me much," he replied, "actually this isn't really a Cathedral."
"Um, it looks like a cathedral to me," Caroline retorted.
"Don't let the arches and chapels and organs fool you," Klaus replied. Caroline walked along, her hands brushing across the wood of the pews and her eyes darting around the view above. "It's never been a cathedral in the actual sense of the term because it's never housed a bishop."
Caroline glanced at him. "So then why do people call it a cathedral?"
"It's a colloquialism," he answered, "the best part is the Hohenzollern Crypt. Come on, I'll show you."
Klaus quickly grabbed her hand before Elijah or Elena could notice and led her away, down to the crypts.
"I don't think I want to see a crypt," Caroline said, trying to tug her hand from his grasp.
"Come on," he teased as the walked down the stairs, "where is your sense of adventure?"
Klaus let go of her hand as the reached the bottom of the steps. The crypt was different that Caroline thought it would be. Everything was out in the open. She expected coffins buried into walls, bones, and cobwebs hanging all around. But there were rows of beautiful coffins made of stone and metal and wood. Some were simple while others were richly decorated with golden angels or fine sculptures. A few were covered with velvet or brocade.
"Wow ok not as scary as I thought it would be," Caroline mused, studying one of the coffins.
"There are 94 residents in the Hohenzollern Crypt, the dead out in plain view for everyone to see unlike any other crypt," Klaus told her, " it's rather amazing most of them lasted through the War damage."
"Hmmm," Caroline hummed as she continued to walk through, exploring the coffins, with Klaus following close behind.
After the Cathedral, the group continued to explore what was listed in Caroline's guidebook as "Museum Island". They chose the Alte Nationalgalerie as their next stop. Klaus continued rambling on to Caroline about the history of the museum to her as they climbed the many steps up the entrance. He sounded like a professor rather than a hungover musician.
"Casper David Friedrich," Klaus announced to Caroline, indicating one of the paintings that hung on the wall, "one of my favorites."
Caroline looked at the painting of the man staring with his back to the viewer, staring out at the foggy landscape.
"Why is that?"
"I enjoy landscapes," he replied simply, "and Friedrich's work is always allegorical. It's more than just a man standing on a rock, looking out at the horizon." Klaus came up behind her his chest brushing against her back. "You don't see the man's face. You can't tell if he's terrified or exhilarated by the vastness before him."
Klaus reached up and brushed his hand across her arm. A small shiver went down her back. Caroline cleared her throat and spun out of his reach. He frowned to himself.
"You know you could be making all of this up and I would never even know."
"Do you think I'm making it all up?" He countered stepping toward her again.
Caroline's mouth twisted up into a teasing smile. "No, but you are being a showoff."
"Forgive my brother," Elijah said from behind them, "he always like to let everyone know how much more intelligent he is than the rest of us. Shall we?"
Elijah held out a hand, ushering Caroline onward. She moved forward and caught up with Elena, linking her arm through her friend's as they continued to look at the paintings. Elijah gave Klaus another warning look and Klaus glowered back at him as they followed the girls.
They ate a late lunch at another museum and Caroline decided to call it a day when she realized that while seeing all the art was cool, she was a little bored with the museums. They tried to find a cab that could shuttle them back to the hotel, but when they couldn't get one for the four of them, the group was forced to split up. Caroline rolled her eyes and laughed to herself when Klaus shoved her into a cab and slid in next to her, forcing Elena and Elijah to share another car together.
Caroline stared out of the window as they rode down the street. She sighed to herself, wishing that they had time to see more of Berlin. It was an interesting city, maybe not the most romantic in the world, but it was full of history. Caroline had never even heard of some of the things mentioned in her guidebook and she wished she could have a chance to see them.
"Something tells me you didn't get your fill of sight seeing," Klaus remarked as if reading her mind.
"No," she confirmed, "but I guess we don't really have that much time. I need to pack up for tomorrow."
"Are you sure? We could go to just one more place?"
Klaus had a mischievous look in his eye. Caroline shook her head. As appealing as the idea sounded, she really had no desire to spend anymore time in the company of Klaus the know-it-all.
"So how long have you known Elena?" Klaus asked. Caroline blinked at him. Was he asking her a personal question?
"Um, we grew up together," Caroline replied a little stunned, "In Virgina. Mystic Falls."
"I thought so. You don't really seem like the celebrity hanger-on type," Klaus said.
"Thanks. I guess that's kind of a compliment."
Klaus shifted over closer to her and put his arm over the back of the seat. "Tell me all about yourself Caroline. Every detail. What you do? Your hopes. Your dreams."
Caroline laughed. "Why do you want to know?"
"You interest me," he replied.
"Why?"
"Because you do."
"That's not an answer," she remarked with a little shake of her head. "I may not know all about art and history, but I'm still too smart to be seduced by you."
"Well that's why you interest me," he responded with a dimpled smile.
Caroline straightened up, trying to lean away from him and hide her smile. It was difficult to be mean to him when he was being so charming. Sleazy, but still charming.
"You know, the person you should be trying to get to know is Elena. Your girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend," Klaus replied pulling away. "And I don't really care to associate with hypocritical self righteous actresses."
"Hey," Caroline said, "that's my friend you're talking about. You aren't exactly making it easy on her either."
"Making it easy for her wasn't part of the contract love."
Caroline sat back in her seat, folding her arms across her chest. The cab took a hard corner, the inertia causing her to lean a bit closer to Klaus for a moment.
"Maybe Elena is a little self righteous sometimes, but she isn't a hypocrite. And anyways it's better than acting like a careless asshole all the time. She's a good person. That's what matters."
"Well Caroline," Klaus said, "without monsters like me, saints like Elena wouldn't have anyone to bestow their goodness upon. She can play the angel, I'll be the devil, and the world will keep spinning round."
The cab lurched again, this time in the opposite direction. The two of them were silent for a bit. Klaus had said too much. For some reason, his mouth had just run away with him. He wanted to make her understand that he wasn't the bad guy in this situation at all. He was doing what he had to do; to save himself and everything else he had riding on his shoulders. He had no other choice. But now he had made her uncomfortable. He needed to lighten the mood.
"So, Caroline, you never did answer my question," Klaus said to change the subject.
They made it back to the hotel, Klaus still following Caroline up to her room, asking her questions and annoying the hell out of her. His mood had shifted in the cab from seductive to serious to sarcastic. Caroline was finding it difficult to keep up. She slipped her key card into her door and walked into her room. Klaus followed.
"Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?" Caroline said trying to push him back out the door. But Klaus slipped out of her reach and shut the door, walking further into the room.
"What's the matter Caroline? Don't trust yourself alone with me in your hotel room?"
Caroline laughed him off again, at the same time her phone rang inside her purse. Usually, taking a cell phone overseas would have been much too expensive, but she decided to get one of those international plans so she could still call her mom and Tyler. And speaking of…
"Hey Tyler," she said answering the phone.
"Hey babe, how's Berlin?"
"Who's that?" Klaus interrupted. Caroline swatted him away, trying to shush him as she answered Tyler.
"It's great, I went to some museums today."
"But Caroline has a true under appreciation of the arts," Klaus said.
Caroline gave him an annoyed look.
"Who's that?" Tyler asked.
"Just some drunk guy in the hall," she replied. Klaus returned her minor insult with a wry smile. "Look can I call you later?"
"Uh yeah I'll call you when I get home from class. I miss you. I love you."
"I love you too," Caroline ended the call before Klaus had a chance to chime in again. She hadn't spoken to Tyler much over the past two days and she knew he was already jealous of all the non-existent European guys she was hanging around. The last thing she needed was for him to overhear Klaus and pick a huge fight.
Klaus sunk down onto the bed. "Who was on the phone?"
"Tyler," she replied, "my boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?"
"Yep," she replied with a haughty smile.
"Funny you didn't mention him before." Klaus's tone had turned a bit darker, Caroline looked up at him, seeing the suspicious frown on his face. His mood had changed yet again.
"Well you never asked." It was a weak answer and she knew it, but she gave it all the same.
"That's a bit suspect don't you think love?"
Caroline frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Well you've been spending all this time with me since you left but you have a guy waiting for you back home?"
"Actually, I haven't been spending time with you. You keep following me around."
"Don't pretend that you don't enjoy it," Klaus said with a Cheshire cat smile.
"I don't," Caroline rebuffed coming to stand in front of him, "let's get this straight once and for all. I'm. Not. Interested okay? You're dating Elena, not to mention you're a drunken, lazy, narcissistic ass who doesn't give a damn about anyone else beside himself. The best you can hope for is my friendship, but your really riding a fine line at that."
Klaus pursed his lips in annoyance, glancing off to the side and back again. He glared at Caroline, who met his stare, her arms crossed over her chest. Then his expression changed. The angry face melted away and the over-confident smirk returned to his lips. It was unnerving.
"We'll see," was all he said before he left her room.
Another loooong chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed it. And I hope you guys enjoyed Klaus and Caroline's first couple of interactions. Klaus is really bad at trying to connect with people and be sincere, so if it's all sounds forced, it's because it's supposed to. But he still has his moments :)
I hope all my German readers weren't cringing at my descriptions. I did my best!
Review please!
And follow me on tumblr at Hybridlovelies