A/N: So much excitement for such a small thing! Oh, I love you all, I do. Thank you, thank you.

This peaks above three thousand words. Sorry...

Just so people know, I understand that Caroline might seem really OOC, but I want to have her be a bit shy in the beginning and then have Klaus be the one to bring her out of her shell. It'll happen soon enough, just give it time.

Okay, and on with the show! I hope you enjoy!


"There's a song on the radio that says:

'Let's get this party started,'

So, let's get this party started."

Calm Before the Storm | Fall Out Boy (Take This to Your Grave)


Everybody Talks (AKA: first talk)

She felt like an intruder in her own body. Her face was still there—her skin, her eyes—but she wasn't herself. Tight, red, revealing cotton had been taped around her (courtesy of Elena Gilbert) and her hair now hung straight. Caroline knew this was all part of Elena's ploy to get her and Tyler together. The brunette hadn't closed her mouth on the subject all week long.

So much for letting it drop, Caroline thought bitterly.

Tonight was the annual Fuck! Summer's Over party in the woods that always took place on the first Friday of the new school year. Caroline hadn't been formally invited, but no one really cared at this type of event. People just wanted to get drunk and forget that, soon enough, they'd be on their own in the world.

Most townspeople knew of the party, but the adults never tried to stop it from happening. It'd been a Mystic Falls High tradition for decades. And who wanted to be the one responsible for killing a thirty year old tradition? And despite everyone's accusations, Caroline's mother didn't mind her going out. As long as she wasn't the one drinking or doing drugs or having unprotected sex.

"Quit jumping, Caroline. You're going to make me poke you in the eye," Elena complained as she stood in front of the blond holding an eyeliner pencil and mascara.

Caroline frowned. "I told you I didn't even want to wear makeup."

Makeup was a foreign concept to Caroline. Occasionally, she'd put a swipe of lipgloss over her lips, or maybe a bit of blush to brighten her cheeks, but she usually stayed away from the stuff. It took too long to take off anyway, and always made her feel like she was wearing face paint. Lots and lots of face paint.

Tapping her foot impatiently, Elena brought the pencil to Caroline's eye again. "Just close your eyes and take a relaxing breath. It'll be over before you know it."

Caroline did as she was told. She flinched a bit when she felt something jab her eyelid, but was able to remain still while Elena continued whatever voodoo she was performing.

"Care, we really have to teach you how to put this stuff on yourself. You'd be so much more comfortable," Bonnie sighed, entering the room. Caroline couldn't see her—her eyes were still closed and being drawn over—but she knew Bonnie had slumped right on Elena's bed. That was Bonnie's spot, even if it was someone else's room.

"I'd be comfortable," Caroline chewed while trying to keep her face frozen. She spoke through tight lips, "if I wasn't being forced to wear this crap in the first place."

Elena clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Makeup is used to enhance what's already there, Caroline. You'll look even better than you normally do. Tyler will really appreciate it."

At the mention of Tyler's name, Caroline's stomach knotted—and not in the oh-I-really-like-this-guy-kind-of-way. It was more of an uncomfortable sensation. Like the time she just knew her mother was going to be angry with her because Caroline had gotten in trouble at school for talking back to the teacher.

She'd sat in the kitchen, chewing her nails while her stomach rolled and rolled painfully. When Liz had finally finished telling her off, Caroline dry-heaved for nearly thirty minutes.

Something told her she might be doing the same thing tonight.

"If Tyler actually likes me, he should be fine with me not wearing makeup. I don't want to make this a big deal, Elena."

Elena had moved on to Caroline's face, rubbing some pale coloured liquid over her cheeks and forehead and chin. Was the girl trying to make her feel like a clown getting ready for a performance?

"Ugh, you're being so difficult, Caroline," Elena grumbled, like Caroline was throwing a hissy fit. "This guy has talked for three months—three fucking months— about how much he wants you. Let's make him need you."

Despite the thrilling tone to Elena's voice, the idea of being needed by someone, especially someone like Tyler, made Caroline want to stay home and never ever leave. Besides the small detail that Caroline had not-so-subtly obsessed about him for years, the whole thing was a simple crush. She'd never wanted to act on it.

Finding out Tyler liked her gave her all the wrong kinds of feelings.

Tyler wasn't a bad person. He was sweet when he wanted to be and tough when he wanted to be. She'd watched him play football for two years now and he was a badass on the field. A blind man could see his passion for the sport, and Caroline very easily admired him for that.

On the other hand, Tyler had a reputation. A bad one.

Supposedly, the quarterback had lost his virginity at thirteen and never looked back.

That fact alone was reason enough to avoid his advances. Or so Caroline thought.

Maybe she was being a moody teenager by changing her mind about Tyler. Maybe she should see where it would go. After all, everyone girl in school, young or old, wanted a piece of him. He turned heads—and he wanted her. He wanted the girl no one invited to parties, the girl who didn't wear makeup because she was happy with how she looked without it.

She should be jumping for joy that he'd been talking nonstop about her. But the attraction just wasn't there anymore, and she couldn't force it back into place. No matter how hard Elena pushed.

.1.

All three girls, each dressed to the nines, stepped into a clearing in the woods. Kegs stood at one end near the bonfire while a few random games were set up closer to the trees.

"Ooh!" Elena squeaked excitedly. "I see the guys. Come on, Caroline. Let's go show you off!"

Caroline saw what 'guys' Elena was referring to: Damon, Stefan, Some-Person-With-His-Back-Turned-To-Her, and Tyler. While she was okay, more than okay, with Stefan, she wasn't yet in the right mind frame to face Tyler. Or Damon, for that matter. She could barely handle listening to Elena drag on and on about him. Being right in the middle of a flirty/i'm-playing-hard-to-get conversation between them would probably kill her.

"You know what, you go," Caroline said, shooing her away with her hands. "I'll be there soon, I promise," she added quickly when she caught sight of Elena's disapproving eye roll.

Regardless of her disappointment, Elena turned on her heel and fled to Damon's side, throwing Caroline a secretive smile over her shoulder.

Yep, she would definitely be dry-heaving tonight.

.1.

Caroline refused to admit that she was looking for him, but after her fifth time surveying the lot, she had to at least acknowledge the large part of her that was disappointed he wasn't there.

She didn't even know who she was trying to find, not really. She didn't know his name or anything about him. All she knew was how close his locker was to hers and the very alluring way he smelled.

Pink sewed itself to her cheeks as embarrassment raced through her. How could she be thinking of how nice someone smelled when she had no clue what their name was? It didn't feel right.

But she'd seen the boy from the first day of school four times in total, and each time she got closer and closer and closer to exploding. Though their eyes only met that first day, Caroline had been waiting for it to happen again.

She wanted that funny feeling his stare gave her again, so different from any other feeling on the planet. Like she was being wound up and uncoiled at the same time. Like she was finding stars in the middle of the day.

Like she was opening her eyes for the first time and finally seeing something worth looking at…something truly beautiful.


Beer was horrible. Niklaus didn't know if he'd ever get used to the taste. He kept thinking it was like swallowing the bitterest of water, only instead of bringing nourishment, it was getting him wasted.

During lunch that day Stefan had invited Niklaus to the back to school party. He'd accepted happily, lying to his mother when he arrived home that he was hanging out with a few friends. His younger brother Kol gave him the side-eye, but thankfully said nothing.

School was not nearly as bad as he had originally thought. Kol's rumours of cruel and unusual punishment dished out by both the staff and the students were quickly proven to be false. Niklaus had even managed to keep most admirers at bay.

Of course, there was the occasional flirty glance sent his way. Some girls were too forceful with their laughs when he told a joke, and some went so far as to touch him. But none of them caught his eye.

Well, except for that one girl.

Blond hair, blue eyes, pale skin. Perfection.

Her locker was just two away from his. Twice he'd been close enough to smell the fruity perfume she wore, hear the softness of her breathing.

An amateur artist, Niklaus had spent a few nights attempting to recreate her beauty on a piece of paper, but it never turned out the way he wanted it to. She was too angelic to be put on a page. His hands were no match for her natural appeal.

He'd been tempted to talk to her, but each time he opened his mouth, his ability to speak abandoned him. Her presence turned him into a fish on dry land, leaving him gaping and gasping for breath.

So, when he saw her at the party, standing all alone by the bonfire, he knew what he had to do—he had to approach her. He felt the need to speak to her, to know her name, to hear her voice, shoot through his veins like the best kind of poison. It could be the alcohol talking for him, but he was desperate to go over to her.

"That girl," he said before thinking. No going back now, Niklaus, he thought cynically. He looked at Stefan, ignoring the attentive stares from the other people in their small circle. "The one by the fire, who is she?"

Everyone turned their heads to see who he was talking about.

"Caroline Forbes." Stefan told him. "The blond wearing the red dress?"

Niklaus hadn't even noticed the dress, he'd been too busy staring at her sullen face. But now that Stefan had mentioned it, Niklaus could look at nothing else. She was absolutely stunning. The colour made her alabaster skin look like pure ivory.

"Yes," he breathed, trying, in vein, to calm down.

Tyler Lockwood smiled lasciviously. "Yeah, that's Caroline Forbes alright."

The way Tyler spoke sent a clear message to Niklaus: Tyler was interested. But if Niklaus had heard anything about the jock, it was that he had a fairly unpleasant reputation when it came to girls. Stefan had told him more than once of the speed with which he went through the attention thrown at him.

He felt sick just thinking about the girl—Caroline, what a name—and Tyler.

"You know her?" Damon Salvatore asked. "Elena here is her best friend," he added, grinning wickedly at the brunette by his side.

"Not really. Her locker's close to mine. I've seen her around. I was just wondering," he said with all the nonchalance he could muster.

He must be turning pink. Thank God it was dark outside.

"You should go talk to her," Stefan suggested. Niklaus almost inhaled his sip of beer. "She's always wanted to go to England. You could tell her all about it."

Elena cleared her throat loudly. "Tyler, you've been England, haven't you? You could go tell her."

The words slapped Niklaus across the face.

"Elena, do you really think Tyler's knowledge on England is a match for Klaus'?" Damon asked, cocking an eyebrow. A second later, he flinched and muttered fuck, that hurt, Elena under his breath.

"No," she stressed, "but I know Tyler's been wanting to talk to her for a while. Now he's got some ammo."

"Elena, I don't need ammo," Tyler argued. He waved a hand around his face, "I've got this sucker. You can talk to her about England tonight, Klausy-boy, don't worry about me."

Niklaus didn't know Tyler well enough to hate him, but he found himself loathing the quarterback regardless. "Thanks," he said in full sarcastic mode. Stefan was the only one who laughed.

Elena opened her mouth as if she had some more objecting to do, but that alone was enough to get Niklaus walking briskly away from the group and towards the girl who'd been haunting his dreams since school began.

The bad thing about approaching someone you didn't know without really thinking it through beforehand was that when you actually reached them, you had nothing to talk about. And that's what Niklaus did. He got to the girl, felt the heat from the flames dancing in the bonfire, and couldn't think of a single word to say.

She was staring at him, her lips parted. They were painted pale pink, like rose petals. He wanted to kiss them, which was strange because at fifteen, he'd never wanted to kiss a girl. Fifteen-year-old guys were supposed to be all about kissing girls, and imagining them naked, and imagining doing things to them while they were naked. But not Niklaus.

This girl brought out a different side of him. One he'd never thought existed.

"Hi," he said, surprised to find the powerful confidence in his voice. He went a little further, "I'm Niklaus."

He thought about putting his hand out for her to shake, but realised that would be a bit weird. He kept his arms by his sides.

"Caroline," she squeaked, and Niklaus could not help but compare her to a mouse. "Nice to meet you."

Smiling broadly, Niklaus watched her skin go the colour of her dress. "Caroline, the pleasure is all mine."

Finally, his etiquette lessons were paying off. Cool under pressure. He could do this.

"You're English," she said, not as a question, but as a statement of fact.

"I am, yes. You're American," he countered.

Her blush spread to her neck. "That I am. Nice observation."

They remain silent for a moment, and he wondered if maybe he'd lost her, but she startled him by speaking. "So, Niklaus, what brings you to America? Awesome name, by the way. Very old English."

A bubble of pride swelled in his chest. He'd hated his name for as long as he'd lived, but right in that moment, he was in love with it. "You can call me Klaus. Niklaus is too formal for my taste. I'm here because this is where my mother wanted to move after she split from my dad."

Niklaus blinked, mostly to himself. He'd not told anyone that. Two seconds in and this girl already had him spilling his secrets.

"Oh, that's not the most exciting of reasons," she said sadly. "My parents are divorced too."

He tried listening for any ounce of fake sympathy in her admission, but found none. She'd said the words almost as an afterthought.

"Two peas in a pod, aren't we?" He joked, his heart sparking when she giggled softly.

She nodded. "It appears we are."

Looking over, Niklaus saw Tyler staring at them blatantly. He turned back to Caroline and smiled again. "I think your locker is fairly close to mine."

"Is it now?"

"Yes. Two up on the right, if I'm not mistaken. I've seen you a couple of times." And I've had to fight the urge to grab you and tell you all my hopes and dreams.

Caroline didn't appear surprised. "I've seen you too," she confessed, biting her lip.

All Niklaus could think was, she's seen me too!

.1.

They'd been making small talk for close to an hour. He'd drained his beer somehow, hoping with each sip that his face didn't look as stupid as he felt it might.

Caroline was kind, and her laugh was to die for. Literally, he was thinking of going to war just for that sound.

She was his age, just a couple of months younger. In fact, her fifteenth birthday was approaching in the next month. He wondered if by then they'd be good enough friends for him to get her something and have her not think him an absolute creep.

"Are you friends with Stefan?" She asked suddenly. "I saw you come over from that group." Her eyes flitted briefly to where Tyler, Stefan, Damon, and that girl—Elena?—stood.

Niklaus rubbed his neck and smiled softly at the term "friend." Yes, he'd met people since school started up, but Jeremy and Stefan were still the only two he really considered friends. Too bad Jeremy was a 'good boy' and refused to come out tonight. "Yeah. He lives down the road from me. We met by accident one day when I was staring at his house."

Way to not sound like an absolute creep. He wanted to run away and hide, but soon tossed that thought out when Caroline giggled…again.

"You were staring at his house?"

"Have you seen that thing? It's huge!" He said, laughing all the while.

"I've seen it, yeah. Very big. So, what? Did he come out threatening to call the police?"

"No, actually. But he did say he had his hounds on standby."

"Wow, what an interesting way to make a friend," Caroline observed, running a finger down her chin. Then she smiled shyly. It took his breath away. "My mom's the sherif, though, so if you want to be my friend, don't stand outside my house. She might shoot you."

Niklaus wasn't sure she heard her right. Was that her small, girlish way of saying they were on their way to being friends?

"No warning?" He asked instead.

She shook her head, still wearing that shy smile. "No warning. Just bang!"

"Well, then," Niklaus said, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. "When I decide to take this acquaintanceship to the next level, I'll stay far away from your home."

Caroline's shy smile blossomed to coquettish. "Good. You dying would really put a damper on this whole being friends thing."


A/N 2: Cute, or not cute? Please review with your thoughts, it helps me write.

I'm not sure what'll happen next. I've got so many ideas for this that I need to sit down and properly organise them. No worries, though, I'll have the next one out by Friday.

Oh, and Klaus does not yet know that Elena is Jere's sister.

Until next week,

-LoveIsATemple