AN: Merry Christmas (Or happy holidays if you prefer). I'm so sorry. I took forever to update, but real life got in the way. I graduated High school, moved and started university (I'm now studying physics). And they keep giving me way too much work. Anyway, on with the story...
Previously on ATOF: Things between Klaus & Caroline are awkward, because she thinks he slept with her. In reality he had given her s sleeping potion and copied her diploma. On the next day Caroline has to take over the "horror class", after she previous teacher jumps out of a window, and struggles with keeping them under control.
Chapter 4: A small change of plans
This evening Klaus started with his extracurricular activity, aka finding his haul. He unlocked the doors to the school quickly tiping in the security code Mrs Lockwood had given him, in case he would be the first in school. As if that was going to happen anytime soon. But right now it came in very handy.
Klaus hadn't come unprepared. He had brought a laser sensor that would alarm his cell phone should anybody enter. Because better safe than sorry, right? He quickly set it up and then went his way to find the door to the basement. It didn't take long and he unlocked it. He went down the stairs and opened Google maps. He had taken the coordinates from Tatia's cell earlier. His phone told him his haul was 54 meters southeast from where he stood.
15 minutes later Klaus had found the spot where he could get as close as possible to his haul without digging. He had taken a few wrong turns on his way. Why would the school need a basement system that large? It was obviously expanded under the gym as well. Otherwise he'd had to do more digging.
Luckily for him it didn't look as if somebody had been here in a while. He started working.
Caroline was sitting on the couch reading a book on how to deal with difficult classes.
Once she had gotten home she had cleaned up and decided that Kat was right. She could do it, she wouldn't give up. That just wasn't her. Though the book didn't really gave her much hope. It was more like a collection of horror short stories.
Frustrated she threw it against the wall. She really needed to pay the library a visit.
"Hey, the book didn't do anything to you" Kat joked. She was sitting in front of the computer to generate work sheets for her classes tomorrow.
"No, but I can't let my frustration out on the students, now can I?" Caroline bit back. Maybe she should make herself a tea to calm down. Never mind the whole litre of camomile tea she has already drunk today.
"How much longer do you think you need? The book isn't helping, but maybe a quick internet search will let me at least survive tomorrow." Caroline asked.
"Not long. I'm as good as finished I just need to print everything."
With an overly dramatic gesture Katherine hit the print button. Caroline smiled at her antics.
"Mmh… it isn't working. Just some weird error code popping up." Katherine frowned.
"You have to unplug it and then plug it back in. It's been like that for a week now." Caroline replied.
Katherine did as she was told and the printer started working.
"Wow, you never told me you had a perfect score on your diploma. You're such a nerd."
"Hey why are you printing my diploma. Are you snooping?" Caroline has shot up from her sitting position and walked over.
"What? No! Of course not. And if I would, don't you think I'd be more subtle?"
Caroline just gave her a suspicious glance and opened up the printer history.
"Weird… Apparently someone wanted to print it yesterday evening" Kat commented.
"That was when Klaus was here to discuss the curriculum…" Caroline shared a look with Katherine.
"That son of bitch" They said simultaneously.
30 minutes later Caroline arrived at the school with her bicycle. She needed to go through Klaus' file to be sure that he had copied her diploma for himself. Okay maybe it was a bit much to sneak into school at the middle of the night. But during theday she wouldn't get a chance and she just had to know.
A little voice in the back of her mind whispered that it was wrong and she was technically breaking in, but Klaus was the one that started with the criminal activity in the first place and she had the keys so…
She as quietly as possible Caroline hurried to the principal's office, not noticing that the alarm was turned off (and totally oblivious that she had just triggered Klaus' alarm).
When Caroline found Klaus's file she saw that she had been right. Oh she would just love to confront him in the morning. Even if she didn't want to admit it she felt a little hurt by the way he has treated her today.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of steps echoing through the empty hallway. In a rush Caroline put the file back in its place and hid behind the door.
The steps were coming closer and stopped right next to her. Caroline's heart beat rapidly in her chest. Who else would be at school at this time of the night than a criminal?
When the person entered the room and Caroline was able to figure out the shape she wasn't sure if she should laugh or be angry. She opted for the latter.
"You!" , she cried out angry. Astonished Klaus turned around. "Caroline? what are you doing here?"
"You're seriously asking me that?" Caroline said walking closer. Then she slapped him. Klaus who hadn't anticipated such a violent outburst was taken aback.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Klaus asked.
"Oh please don't act all innocent. You're a fucking criminal" Caroline nearly shouted.
"What?" A chill went down Klaus' spine. How had she found out? "Have you smelled too much ink eraser?" He replied.
"Excuse me." Caroline put her hands on her hip. "You're the one who stole my diploma."
Oh. That wasn't so bad Klaus thought. Well still not good but surely he could convince her to keep it a secret. She seemed like a compassionate person. He would try to appeal to that.
"Look sweetheart, I'm sorry, but I really needed the job and I had some issues at university ."
Caroline noticed how his voice suddenly was all honey. But she wouldn't let herself get distracted by that accent… Nope. Not happening. She focused on her anger.
"You used me, you jerk. You slept with me just to get my diploma. You exploited me."
She took a step forward as if to hit him again.
Klaus started to laugh evilly. (And ignored the fact that she looked kinda cute all worked up and angry)
"Oh come on. You really thought I'd slept with you? That's pathetic. I wouldn't touch you if I were dead." He changed his approach. He didn't like being accused something like that.
Wow, that had really hurt. Caroline thought. Of course was she glad that she hadn't been used like that but that was a low blow. She was insecure enough as it was.
The moment Klaus saw the look of hurt pass her eyes he felt a slight tugging in his chest that he couldn't identify. But it was gone the moment the slapped him a second time that night.
"Tomorrow I will go to principal Lockwood and tell her what you've done. You'll be fired in no time" she brushed past him through the door.
Dammit, Klaus thought. "Caroline wait", he ran after her. That was so not how this was supposed to go. He gripped her shoulder and stopped her. When she turned around he took a step back.
"Look there surely must be something you want in exchange for keeping it quiet." He calmed his voice as much as he could.
"Are you trying to bribe me? Seriously? I can't be bought." With a huff she turned away again mumbling to herself "I just want things to go back to normal and I want my old Cla..." She stopped dead in her track. Slowly she turned around again. "We might just be able to make a deal after all Mikealson."
Klaus wasn't sure what he had gotten himself into, but if switching classes kept her silent... how bad could a group of teens be?
So the next morning he stood in front of principal Lockwood together with Caroline.
"You want to switch classes? Why? I just finished organising the schedule." She looked doubtful at them.
"Yeah, er, well" Klaus started.
Caroline had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. "He did some training on socio aggressive adolescents. And you know we don't want the kids to miss out on such a great chance"
She intervened before Klaus could say something stupid. No wonder he had struggled in university.
Carol looked sceptical but accepted the answer.
"Alright. If that's what you want."
Caroline and Klaus both nodded.
"Okay, now, why are you still standing here? Don't you have classes to teach?" She ushered them out of the door.
When Klaus entered the classroom, he noticed how very different the students were compared to the last class. The sophomores had all been sitting, looking at him expectantly and were quiet.
This class looked like a missile had just hit, papers and trash were all over the floor, and the students were all chatting in groups of different size and completely ignored his arrival. That was more how he remembered his time at school.
"Good morning" Klaus called out. A few heads turned and some of the female students whistled.
"Where is the class book?" Klaus asked. He had realized that he had to sign in there after every lesson and he wanted to get that over.
A blonde girl turned towards him. "Cupboard" was her only reply before she turned back to her friends.
Klaus rolled his eyes, and went to get the book. The kids annoyed him but obviously they were as keen on learning as he was on teaching, maybe they could get along. Or not.
When Klaus opened the cupboard door something dark and slimy poured over him. The kids started laughing.
Who did these kids think they were?! Angry he took the book and sat down in front of the class.
"You think that's funny? Alright, let's see who you are"
He took a look at the name list in the front of the book. The kids would learn not to mess with him.
"Okay, who's Tessa?" He asked. And every single student raised their hands.
Yeah, okay, he might just be able to understand why Caroline wanted out of this class. But it would be a cold day in hell before Klaus would let himself be bullied by a bunch of kids.
He stood up to achieve a more intimidating appearance, the problem was just that he was stuck. Really? They glued him to the chair?
Angrily he ripped the chair and a bit of his pants with that away.
He was pretty sure he saw someone fall of their chair because they laughed so hard.
Klaus was seriously pissed. If he didn't leave right now, he would probably end up beating one of this little pieces of shit. Not that he would actually mind that, just that he could use the investigation/law suit that would surely follow.
He stormed out of the room, and made his way to the school exit, when Ms Lockwood's voice suddenly rang through the intercom.
"Mr Mikealson, to my office now."
How the hell had she known he was leaving? Oh yeah right, he had forgotten the security cameras that were all over the place. But seriously didn't she have better things to do than stare at the footage all day?
He went to her office and stormed right in without knocking.
"Mr Mikaelson, I'm pretty sure you should be teaching a class and not leaving" She said without looking up.
Klaus gathered the last bits of self-control he had left.
"With all due respect Ms Lockwood, but I need to change" he said with gritted teeth.
At that she looked up and noticed the state he was in.
"Oh, yeah, well, but this is an exception. Make sure you get those kids under control" With that he was dismissed.
"Of course" He turned around and left.
Carol looked after him, appreciating the view, before she turned back to her work.
AN: I hope you weren't too disappointed. Like I mentioned earlier I'm mixing the american and german school system, so if you're confused don't hesitate too ask. Hopefully I won't make you guys wait that long again, but no promises (though reviews do motivate me)