Chapter 7: Shatter Me
At The Boarding House:
With a kiss on the forehead Stefan had left Caroline in her room, well the guest room that she was staying in and let her get ready for her brunch. She had tried to apologize to him, for being a basket case the night before but he would have none of that. He didn't mind it. He cared for her and that's all that matter. She could have cried a thousand puddles of tears on him and he wouldn't have minded it. That was what he was there for. He had told her that maybe a thousand times throughout the night. She simply sighed after he had given the same answer he had been giving her the whole night. Once he had left her alone she rummaged through her closet from the other room, the one that use to be theirs before Damon had tainted it with having sex with Elena. She told herself to make a mental note to remove her clothes from the room and put them into the guest room. Not being to withstand being in that room any longer she grabbed her pile of clothes and headed back to the guest room. She quickly stuffed her bag with loose clothing and then packed her hairbrush and curly iron. Afterwards she got dressed barely realizing she had chosen a fitted blouse and mini skirt to wear. After getting dressed she slipped on her heels and pinned up her hair into a side ponytail.
It didn't take Caroline long to make it down the stairs after she had gotten ready and grabbed her bag. Tyler was waiting for her to take her to the brunch. Once she saw him guilt evaded her features. She hadn't meant to take advantage him or hurt him, but she knew what happened the night before could never happen again. His hand slightly brushed against her arm before she removed his hand from her and looked at him sternly. "Stop." She demanded. "That's not what you said last night?" He said leaning closer into her with a smirk on his face. She grunted, fire showing in her eyes. "Last night was a mistake. Get that through your thick skull." She growled before stepping back. "I will no longer need you services. From this day on you're no longer allowed here. You're fired Tyler. Now please leave." He had no intention of leaving or being fired for that matter. Grabbing her wrist he tightly he held it, hurting her. "No one fires me, especially not a lady such as you. You fucking slut." She tried to pull away, but he only held her tighter, making bruises into her skin. His lips roughly crashed against hers as she thrashed against him, trying to push him off her. Though it was proving to be difficult. The more she fought against him the tighter he held her. The way he was handling her made her think back to the night she had stole bread from her family. Her eyes caught sight of his as recognition hit her. It was him; it had always been him this whole time. How had she not known it was him? Fear struck her and her body trembled. "Let me go." She managed to scream before he covered her mouth as he moved his lips down to her neck beginning to place rough kisses down her neck, his body firmly pressed into hers, his erection against her. She whimpered, tears streaking her face as she tried with all her might to fight him, thrashing and kicking which only ceased to make him like it more.
Damon had been so engrossed in his thoughts until his keen sense of hearing picked up his wife's screams. Rushing to her side he threw Tyler off her. A low growl in his throat as he pressed his hand against Tyler's neck. "Keep your hands off my wife and furthermore leave this house, never return or I will hunt you down and kill you myself." Tyler simply chuckled after his throat had been released. "She didn't refuse last night." He stated with an evil smirk. He rushed off before Damon had the chance to go after him again. So instead he ended up punching his fist through the wall, a small amount of pain shooting through his knuckles, which quickly healed afterwards. Caroline's body went limp as it slides down the wall, her back against it. She couldn't help her tear streaked face as more tears fell. She sat there for a moment before Damon came over. Leaning down he checks her over for bruising and winces when he notices the ones on her wrist. His fingers lightly brush her cheeks. She leans her cheek into his fingers for a mere moment before pulling his hand lightly away. Though it felt nice, and though she loved him, she just wasn't ready to forgive let alone be intimate with him again. He had noticed her lean her cheek into his fingers and had brushed his fingers against them again inhaling, her scent encasing his nostrils. Oh her sweet sweet smell? How he wished she hadn't pulled away. When she got up he noticed her attire and couldn't help but look appreciatively at it. He longed to take her but knew he had to gain her trust back. And though he now knew who she had slept with last night, and though it bothered him, he was determined more than ever to get her back. Because he ultimately knew she wouldn't have done it if he hadn't fucked Elena. He noticed her cheeks fluster once she realized the way he was looking at her, her breathe hitching, her chest heaving up and done. She couldn't deny it, she longed for him too, but just couldn't take that leap of faith at the moment.
Clearing her throat she composed herself before grabbing her bags, wiping her face and opening the front door. "I—I better get going." She softly said before turning back around. "Care." He said longing in his voice, her heart beat increasing. "Damon-" She began before he turned her to face him placing a kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there a moment longer then they should. "Be safe." He murmured his lips still against her forehead before he pulled away. She nodded then headed for her car and drove to the grill.
At The Grill:
She had arrived to the grill an hour or so past the time she said she would meet the girls so they already had a table ready when she got there. Heading for the table they each hugged her. It was Hayley who noticed the bruises on Caroline's wrist first. "What happen?" Hayley asked sternly. "Did my brother do this to you?" Her eyes burning with fury. "No I'm fine. He didn't do anything." She knew that was a lie if only partially. Though he had not bruised her, he had broken her heart. "Then who did?" She said more sternly letting Caroline know she would get the truth from her sooner or later. She finally admitted it was Tyler and some of what happened, but didn't explain that she had slept with Tyler the night before after finding Damon in bed with another woman, Elena none the less. Both Kat and Hayley were shocked, but knew there was more to the story then what Caroline was telling them.
Deciding to leave it alone for awhile they continued with their brunch before Caroline surprised them by asking if she could crash at their place. Both of them ask why and when she tried to make up a valid excuse they realized there were things that she wasn't telling them about what happened with Damon. "What happened between you two? Tell us we know something did?" When she refused to answer they grunted slightly. "Care we care for you and want to help, but can only do that if you tell what us happened." Finally she explained how she had found Damon in bed with Elena and the events followed including her sleeping with Tyler. "I know it was stupid, but at the moment it felt like he was the only one that saw me, the only that said I mattred. That's what I should get from Damon, but I don't. I would do anything for him and I could be his one, but he chose to sleep with that slut."She said with disgust as she was referring to Elena. Kat was livid, not because of the Caroline disliking Elena but for what her sister had down to them by interfering. Though it didn't surprise Hayley about Elena, but it did about her brother, she really thought he changed. It made her mad that her brother hurt Caroline like this even though it was stupid what Caroline did in return, but she understood it. People do stupid things when they are hurt. "So I can stay with one of you?" She asked softly. "Of course you can." They both said smiling. "It will be a girl's night." Hayley said, but wondered if she should tell Klaus. As if Caroline could read her thoughts she shook her head. "Please don't tell Nik. I'm not ready for him to know." She nodded though she hated to keep secrets from him this was something Caroline would have to tell him herself.
Later At The Mikaelson Mansion:
When they had arrived back at the mansion Klaus knew something was up. His sister never asked to stay the night. He could literally feel his fists clinch together as the thought of the things that Damon could have possible done to her. He would kill, mock his words he would kill him. The more he interrogated her about what happened, the more she became skittish and refused to answer his questions, therefore making him more frustrated. He was so mad that his veins began to pop out as he gritted his teeth. To calm him down Hayley placed her hand on his chest, looking up him. "She will let you know when she is ready. Let the poor girl breathe. I know you love her, but what she needs right now is for us to be supportive and ask questions later. " She whispered as she could feel his breathing start to even out and him calm down.
Once her brother had left things alone she headed for her old room. Laying down on the bed she changed into her sweats and then went into her bathroom.
"Somebody Shine A Light. I'm Frozen From The Fear Inside."
"Somebody Make Feel Alive And Shatter Me."
Finding any type of pills she could, she then took them wanting to forget the pain of her broken heart. What she didn't realize is that she would end up using them as her crunch and they would become her addiction, one she might not come back from. After she took them she drew herself a bath, later having the maid bring her a martini to drink. Mixing the two would have adverse effects on her. After her bath she slipped back into her sweats and headed downstairs to read.
Both Mansion and Boarding House:
Damon had been pacing back and forth and back worried. Caroline had yet to come home from brunch and he wondered why. He kept pacing for a few minutes before going upstairs. It was then that he realized some of Caroline's clothes were missing from their room so he checked the guest room, yet they were not there either. He lowly growled with frustration evident on his face. How dare she? She was his wife therefore belonged with him nowhere else. His hands balled into a fist before he composed himself enough to call her cell. When she didn't answer he called again and again. When there was still no answer he became angry by the minute. Finally he tried Klaus's place and his sister answered. "Hello?" She said as she heard Damon's voice through the phone. "Is my wife there?" He asked trying to hide the anger in his voice. "Yes but what it's to you. I know what you did Damon. How could you? You might have just lost the best thing you ever had." She stated her voice booming through the phone. "What the bloody Hell is going on?" Klaus asked his voice booming from the other room. He could be heard through the phone. Damon gritted his teeth. "She is my wife that is what is to me. Now if she isn't home in 5 minutes I'm coming after her. You understand me. She better be ready in five minutes." He shouted knowing Caroline could hear him. Hanging up he waited for her to return home. When she didn't he headed to the mansion. By this time Klaus knew everything and was extremely mad.
Knocking on the door after speeding over there, Klaus answered the door Caroline a few ways back behind him. "Leave before I make you leave Damon. She doesn't want to see you." He said through gritted teeth. "Nor do you deserve her for what you did." Damon gritted his teeth as well inching closer to him. "I will not leave without my wife." He stated firmly his eyes bearing into Caroline's. He pushed past Klaus and headed her way but was stopped by him. "I said leave." He shouted resulting in them fighting. They rustled back and forth before the fight was broken up by Caroline. "Stop this." Her voice booming as she separated the two. After his breathe calmed down he spoke." Please come home." He said finally defeated. "No." She said firmly. "I need time, give me time." He finally sighed before placing a kiss to her cheek. Klaus inwardly scoffed at the display. After Damon left he had punched his hand though his car window, cutting himself. The wounds would heal, but the brief pain he could feel. Though he probably deserved it. Klaus was glad when he had left for now that is. This whole time no one could tell that Caroline was strung out and that was just the beginning.
