A/N: So sorry I'm a day later. My beta decided to hold this chapter hostage until I wrote the next one. She was smart to do it but still! This is probably one of my favorite chapters so far. I really hope you guys are still with me on this one. Thanks to maitressesaint for beta and being all around awesome.

Disclaimer: They aren't mine but I do own too many autographs from the cast.

ENJOY!

Chapter Three - She's All That

Just as her mother said, the drive to Durham was a short one for Caroline and Bonnie. Between the singing of Bon Jovi and Spice Girls, the trip was quite enjoyable for them. This sort of weighed on Caroline's mind because she didn't want her friend to have to think about the distance between Durham and Mystic Falls; more so, the distance between her and Jeremy.

They were checking into their hotel when Caroline got a text from Katherine.

Are you bitches here yet? - Kat

Checking in now, give us a min. – Care

I'm on my way. Dress cute. – Kat

Caroline laughed at her phone as Bonnie dangled the key card in her face.

"Katherine is on her way. She wants us to dress cute so I'm assuming we are getting an early start on Thirsty Thursday." Sliding the card into the door and waiting for the red light to turn green. The room was nice enough for its purpose Caroline thought. They didn't plan on spending much time in the room over their time there. Falling back against the queen sized bed, kicking her shoes off and looking up at the ceiling.

"Do you think that she would start us off this early with the partying?" Bonnie asked as she started to unpack some of the things.

Sitting up, she looked over at Bonnie. "I'm not sure. I wouldn't put it pass her. Kat was a pretty heavy partier back home. But that doesn't matter anyway, we're here to let loose and experience. No thinking."

Going to her own bag to see if there was something she could change into. Settling on a blue maxi dress and some wedges, Caroline touched up her make-up and fluffed her hair. Might as well be cute and comfortable she thought.

Bonnie was slipping her feet into a pair of shoes when there was a knock at the door. Caroline opened the door and Katherine came barreling in wearing only a bikini top and long flowing skirt.

"Ladies! Are we ready to get going? And please tell me you both have swim suits on," Kat said as she closed the door behind her. The girls all hugged briefly.

"Well since you didn't tell us where we were going, no we don't," Caroline rebutted.

Rolling her eyes, Kat took a seat on the small desk opposite the beds. "Sorry. We're going to a pool party at the Pi Kappa Phi house. So get your butts changed. I'll wait." Kat smirked and lade herself comfortable.

Both girls sighed and easily slipped on their bathing suits under their dresses. Grabbing their sunglasses, room key and other essentials, they left to start their weekend officially.

The party was in full swing by the time the girls got there. Someone had just fallen into the pool, splashing water at Caroline's feet as she walked. Massive amounts of skin were being shown and people looked as if they were having fun. So far everyone that she passed was friendly and welcoming.

They made it over to the keg that wasn't too far from the barbeque grill that was set up. Kat handed cups to Caroling and Bonnie and raised her own.

"To fresh starts and breaking hearts!" Kat saluted. Knocking their cups together, Caroline and Bonnie sipped as they watched Kat drain hers and go for a refill. The best friends shared a look and both shrugged before emptying their own cups and refilled.

~BoB~

Day turned into night and the girls found themselves chatting up a few of the Pi Kapp brothers. Before the night ended they caught Kat making out with one of them in the hot tub. Overall, their first day in Durham was successful.

Over the next few days things would go in a similar fashion; Caroline and Bonnie would find themselves exploring Durham during the day and partying it up at a different fraternity or sorority at night. They were making their way through Greek row in the short days that they were there. They got a feel for what the campus would be like when they started in the fall. Kat even gave them a tour of some of the dorms in the East Campus.

Before they knew it, it was their last full day in Durham before they had to go home. While Caroline was trying to decide what dress she was going to wear tonight at the last party of the weekend, the Sigma Nu house, she caught Bonnie staring at her phone.

"Please don't tell me you're checking your phone again."

"I'm not! I thought I felt it vibrate and I didn't want to maybe miss a text from my mom." Lied Bonnie. She found herself checking her phone every few hours just in case Jeremy may have texted her. She felt just as pathetic as she knew she was acting but she couldn't help it. She missed him regardless of how they ended things before this trip.

Caroline walked over and snatched the phone out of Bonnie's hand. "You will get this back once you start letting loose. You kissed no random strangers this weekend and I'm kind of disappointed." She threw the phone in her purse along with hers.

Bonnie huffed on the bed as Caroline walked around the room in her underwear trying to get ready. This was her last effort this weekend to get her friend out of the funk.

"Let's make a deal. If tonight you let your guard down I promise to…" Caroline tapped her chin trying to think of the best counter.

"I'll let you wallow for the rest of the summer, no nagging from me."

Bonnie rolled her eyes and thought about the offer. A nag free Caroline wasn't such a bad idea.

"You have a deal, but I'm going to need my phone before we get to the party. Just in case we get separated, like we did last night." Caroline agreed and fought the urge to give herself a pat on the back. She knew that she was probably coming on a bit strong, but the thought of going through these college milestones without her best friend by her side scared Caroline.

Growing up an only child wasn't as bad as growing up with two parents who realized too late that they weren't in love with each other. Caroline wasn't abused and whatnot, but it wasn't the best situation being the bargaining chip between her mom and dad. She probably over compensated for a lot of things. Became the over achiever she now was because she wanted her parents to see that she was handling their divorce in a mature way. However, when the opportunity presented itself of going away for school and away from the small town life of Mystic Falls, she jumped at it.

So far this weekend she met a slew of new people and took a bunch of numbers down. Caroline wasn't one to have a serious boyfriend back home. That was Bonnie's job she thought. She was more of a flirt and occasionally hook-up kind of person. She ended up losing her v-card to Tyler Lockwood in the back of his car at homecoming last year. It was a less than stellar experience. But Caroline didn't regret it. Her and Tyler remained friends and sometimes hooked up when both of them were bored or had an itch to scratch. He had been her only sexual encounter and she liked it that way. She didn't want to be known as a slut, but she was definitely okay with being a flirt. Flirting hurt no one she thought.

Both girls agreed that it would be best if they just took their car to the party because if it turned out to be a dud they could have an easy out. Bonnie dressed in a black lace covered cocktail dress while Caroline opted for a blue flare dress that showed off her legs.

Following the directions Kat gave her, Caroline was pulling up to the Sigma Nu house. It was easily the largest of the houses they had seen this weekend. That excited Caroline and made Bonnie nervous.

"Here; now go forth and be flirty." Caroline handed Bonnie back her phone but before they exited the car Caroline placed her hands on Bonnie's shoulders and looked her in the eye.

"You is kind, you is smart, you is important." She said sincerely to her friend. This was something each girl said to each other ever since seeing The Help. Bonnie smiled reassuringly and they made their way into the party.

The new Justin Timberlake song could be heard from the walk leading up to the house. The door was open and people were scattered over the lawn and all throughout the house. Caroline moved along with the music as they made their way inside to get a drink. Kat was nowhere to be seen but Caroline wasn't worried, she would turn up sooner or later.

As the party blazed on, the booze flowed and the music poured from the speakers all around them. Having had more than a few drinks since arriving and feeling a little uninhibited, Bonnie and Caroline moved to the middle of the makeshift dance floor and danced together.

Trouble troublemaker, yeah
That's your middle name, oh oh oh...
I know you're no good but you're stuck in my brain
And I wanna know...

Two blonde guys came behind them and started dancing against them. Caroline could already predict Bonnie freezing up. She mouthed to her friend 'Let go' and closed her eyes and allowed the tall blonde to ease her away. His hands landed on her waist as Caroline moved her hips to the bass of the song. When she felt his grip get a little tighter she slowly slid down his body. She dropped it like it was hot and when she made her way up she could tell he appreciated it. Turning around to face him now, she finally saw him. He was very attractive; curly dark blonde hair cut short, he certainly had muscles, but wasn't overly buff either. His leg came between Caroline's and hands returned to her waist to guide her movements.

"I'm Klaus." Blondie leaned in and whispered hotly against Caroline's ear. He pulled her closer to him and she could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Care," she replied, before turning around and pressing her back to his chest. 'Klaus', if that was his name, wasn't bad looking but Caroline felt he was getting a little too close for comfort. In this position it allowed her to look around the room at the other dancing couples, Bonnie included; who was actually making out with her blonde stranger. Caroline internally fist pumped for her friend.

The song changed to a more fast paced song, but Klaus still had a firm grip on Caroline's waist and controlled the tempo in which they moved. Her heavy eyes raked over the other guests. Couples huddled in corners or on furniture. Some in stages of entanglement and others were practically having sex on the dance floor. From the hardness pressed against Caroline's lower back, she could tell how things were affecting dear old Klaus.

What kind of name is Klaus anyway? Maybe he was related to Santa. The thought made Caroline laugh to herself.

"You okay?" Klaus asked, his breath hitting her neck.

"I'm fine, thirsty. I'm going to get a drink, you…you wait right here." Caroline pulled away from him just as the song started to morph into the next. She walked over to the bar area and poured made herself a drink. Turning around and leaning against it as the liquid burned its way down.

Bonnie was no longer anywhere in sight. Caroline thought that this is exactly what she wanted for her friend, but she would kill for an excuse to be away from Grabby Hands McGee. Taking a breather, her eyes scanned the room once more trying to think of an escape plan. Something or rather someone caught her eye. He was standing off at the other bar at the end of the room. It wasn't his impressive jaw line or the hair that sat somewhat perfectly on his head that made her stare. It was the fact that this guy who she didn't know from a ham sandwich was staring at her. His stare made Caroline nervous in an exciting way. She reached behind her and replenished her cup with whatever bottle her hand landed on. This was not the norm for her, mixing drinks the way she had but at this point she couldn't give two shits. She wanted to know who this brooding guy was and why he was staring at her like she was something to eat.

Slowly wobbling her way across the room to this mystery fella who had caught her eye, she stopped in front of him, simply staring. Bringing her cup to her mouth, she bit down on the brim and he smirked.

"You're going to crack the cup that way," he said. His voice was…manly. It sent a slight shiver down her.

"Then I will just have to get another one, won't I?" she countered.

His sea green eyes hungrily ate Caroline from head to toe and she found herself feeling naked as he stared at her. She wondered what it would feel like to be actually naked in front of him. Appraising him the same way he did her, she took inventory of his muscular arms and down to the long fingers that wrapped around the red cup. Caroline wanted to know how those fingers would feel on her.

Stranger danger then reached out and wrapped those fingers around her cup and brought it down from her mouth; his thumb grazing against her bottom lip, possibly by accident. Caroline didn't know if it was intentional but part of her wanted it to be. That same part was the reason her tongue peaked out and caught swipe at it.

His green eyes connected with her blue ones and they both seemed to darken from that one brief moment of contact. He swallowed and Caroline followed the bobbing of his Adam's apple intently; she wanted to lick it.

"Maybe we should have this conversation somewhere more… private?" he asked, placing her cup and his on the neighboring bar top.

Caroline didn't have to think, she couldn't think. All she knew was that from this moment now, she was to see how much danger she was willing to take with her new stranger.

A/N: I know! I suck but it seemed like a good place to stop. Hopefully I will get chapter four to you guys next week! Don't forget to read and review!

Now Playing:

Troublemaker - Olly Murs
Let The Groove Get In - Justin Timberlake