LoVeCakes - Am I still pardoned for taking this long? _ I haven't decided yet how the break up will go (or if it will definitely happen :P) but Klaus would definitely not accept her jumping from Tyler's arms to hers so easily. As you'll see, he's not even letting her decide too easily either.
BlueCorner - I tried to incorporate a teeny bit of Tyler POV here. I really really tried.
Lord of Sin - Honestly, I just don't think Klaus is petty enough to try to make her jealous out of his hurt. It doesn't seem his style. He has a lot of pride. But I understand it's a little weird for him to be so accepting of how she's treating him in this story. It bothers me, actually. But I guess it's just the situation. It's not your standard Klaroline situation so it's kind of weird to work with but at the same time fun and intriguing. But yeah. It's the situation that's making them act this way.
AllieDiamond - lol I feel like I should give you a hug to calm you down. As for the codeword...that'll be revealed in due time. ;)
TreasureLoveCherish - I'm sorry! I'm trying to update as fast as I can but motivation, inspiration and reality all seem to be against me these days. :(
Yikes. 2 months. I thought I was getting better at this...
Well, I just went back and looked at all of my author's notes for every chapter. And it looks like no matter what I say, every chapter head I'm apologizing like crazy for taking so long. So let's just cut to the chase this time. We all know I take too long. We all know I could come up with an endless list of reasons why. But at the end of the day, this is still an update. And soon enough, the story will be finished, and you won't have to put up with my pitiful apologies. Right? :D
BUT I LOVE YOU ALL FOR STICKING IT OUT WITH ME, READING, REVIEWING, FAVORITING, FOLLOWING!
STAY BEAUTIFUL GUYS. XOX
Chapter 8
Rebekah walked into the mansion briskly, still chipper from her daily drive home from school with Matt. She walked into Klaus' study to confront the broody hybrid about her little blonde run-in, expecting to see her brother deeply annoyed or at least scheming to win her back yet again. But he was neither. Instead he sat in his chair, sullen, poring over sketches.
"What was that all about?" she asked, inferring to Caroline's anxious departure.
"What?" he answered dully, not looking up from his sketch.
"I just ran into Little Miss Perfect on her way out. She looked distressed. I take it you're still gallivanting after her, trying to win her affections then?"
"Mm."
Rebekah rolled her eyes, moving toward the book shelf, inspecting a cast iron bust bookend sitting on it as she pondered aloud. "You know she loves that bloody little mutt, Tyler. I don't see why you can't just leave it be and move on." She picked up the bust, turning it in her hands. "What's so special about Caroline Forbes anyway?"
He glanced up, perturbed. "What on earth are you rambling about now, Rebekah?"
She turned her head sharply, putting the bust back on the shelf. "Did you not hear a word I just said? She was fleeing for her life from here when I saw her. I would have thought by now you'd have given up the pursuit."
He blinked, finally registering everything she'd been saying and putting two and two together with the story Caroline had fed his sister. He cleared his throat with a sigh, looking up confidently with a raised eyebrow, layering the near-caught feeling in his chest with his pride.
"You know I never walk away from a challenge empty-handed, baby sister."
She rolled her eyes. "You won't win. She's too loyal a person."
He looked back down at his book, restraining a smirk with all his might. If she only knew...
"So what was she scolding you for this time? More drawings and lavish jewels that she doesn't even deserve?" She turned her nose up snootily at the thought.
"I'm trying to work here, Rebekah," he said gruffly, looking back at his drawing. "Could you possibly pester me about this later? Or, better yet, not at all?"
"Well if you're really trying to win her over, ponies and diamonds won't cut it. I can tell you that right now."
He stood up with a sigh, fed up with her intrusion. "It was a stallion," he corrected tiredly, starting to usher her out by the arm. "And you have no reason to be concerning yourself with my attempts to woo the Sheriff's daughter."
She turned around, stepping back from his hold. "Just tell me one thing, Nik." She looked at him with a little smirk, eyes twinkling with suspicion. "Is this still really about Elena's blood or do you actually fancy the girl?" He rolled his eyes, agitated. "I won't think less of you do. Well...not much less."
"Goodbye Rebekah," he said, shoving her out.
"Fine. Maybe Elijah will have some insight."
His heart stopped for a split second before he blurted out unconsciously, "He won't have much input on the subject." At her expression, he quickly amended his slip. "He has no interest in these types of affairs."
She turned over her shoulder with a grimacing grin. "Tell that to Katherine."
She raised an eyebrow sassily and walked down the hall. He smiled at her back, but shook his head annoyed with how increasingly apparent the situation with Caroline was growing. Something had to be done or decided. And he wasn't the one who had to do it.
The next afternoon, Caroline was greeted by a lone police car sitting in front of the school. All her life she'd never heard the end of the "cop for a mom" or "the nark's daughter" jokes every time her mom surprised her, but today it was eerily quiet as she made the dreaded walk to face the Sheriff.
The dread continued with her mother's suspicious offering of taking her for ice cream since she had a free moment between shifts. It was something they did when she was younger when Liz wanted to have a heart to heart with her daughter and discuss something important - her dad's new preference of men; explaining the rules of dating; the birds and bees. Without a good enough excuse to get out of it, Caroline had obliged.
"So," her mother started oddly cheerfully, gripping the wheel anxiously. "Klaus came to talk to me today."
Caroline's heart stopped, eyes widening and sliding sideways to her mother. "Really? What'd he want, more public backing?" She scoffed and rolled her eyes, trying to play it off.
"No. Not exactly."
She swallowed against her suddenly drying throat. He wouldn't be so stupid, would he?
"He told me what's been going on between you two."
Her heart plummeted. No. No, no, no, no, no! Why would he tell her mom? That was almost as bad as telling Tyler! Was he insane?! ...Was that even a question?
"Oh," she replied in a timid voice.
After a pause, Liz spoke again. "Aren't you going to try to dispute it?"
Caroline looked at her lap, guiltily. "I can't."
She sighed. "I was afraid of that."
"Look. Mom, I'm sorry. He just...kept pestering me and giving me things and he wouldn't go away. And when I tried to tell him to, he just..." She shook her head. "And then one thing led to another..." She sighed, miserably. "Do you hate me?"
"No, I don't hate you." She tilted her head. "I'm a little disappointed..."
Caroline frowned. "That's even worse."
"Look. I don't want to 'mom' you, Caroline. But I know you know that what you're doing with him is wrong."
"I know."
"Then you have to stop. I didn't raise you to cheat...did I?" She glanced at her worriedly.
"No! Of course not. This isn't your fault, mom. It's all me. I'm stupid and inconsiderate of Tyler, and..." She scoffed. "And greedy, I guess."
"I don't understand. This isn't like you. You've never acted out before."
"Mom! I'm not acting out. I just made a mistake, okay? A really dumb mistake..."
"Do you have feelings for him?"
She looked up alarmed, letting out a nervous laugh. "Klaus? Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am serious. There's a reason you keep going back after two months, Caroline. I'm your mother but I'm not stupid."
Caroline sighed, knowing there was no way out of this one. "I don't know," she tried.
"Is that the truth or are you deflecting again?"
"I can't, mom. He's Klaus and I'm...with Tyler. I can't feel anything for him!"
"But you do."
She looked down, her voice small and childish, reluctant to admit it. "Yes."
Liz nodded, finally having pulled the truth from her at last. "All right. Okay." She nodded continuously, blinking too much as she drove.
"Mom..."
"It's okay." Liz shook her head. "We can fix this."
Caroline's head jerked, not expecting the sudden turnaround. "...How?"
"Can you just stop seeing him? Is it really that serious?"
She peered at her mother carefully. "Are you asking that seriously or is it because you disapprove?"
"Of course I disapprove, Caroline. I've seen what he's capable of and I don't want my daughter anywhere near that kind of monster."
"A little late for the judgement, don't you think?"
"Well I clearly can't stop you, but you wanted my input. I didn't say you had to like it."
"Mom!" she groaned in frustration. "What do I do?"
"You have to decide. You can't keep stringing them both along. I can't tell you who to choose, although I'm pretty sure you already know who has my vote. But be smart about it, Caroline. And I know you are, but don't let your head and your heart get mixed up. He might seem like he's Mr. Perfect but I've had a lot of criminals try to charm the pants off me. They're all the same. And they're never who they say they are."
Caroline sighed, slumping back in her chair as she gazed silently out the window. Her mom was right. You can't have your cake and eat it too without being labeled as a cheating whore. She would have to cut one loose and, actually, she already had, the last time she was with Klaus. But if it was supposed to be that cut and dry then why did she feel like she just chose wrongly and gave up the better of the two?
Maybe she just needed to reaffirm her choice. And there was only one way to do that.
It was evening when Klaus finally emerged from his study, finished drawing and parched from the effort of not picking up his phone to see if Caroline had had a change of heart. He thought about sending out the signal, but after the blow out they'd had, he thought better of it and decided to let her be the one to come back to him. And it didn't take long. Just as he had opened his blood bag there was a pounding at the door. Elijah and Rebekah's whereabouts were unknown so he'd had to dispose of the bag and answer the angry knocking himself. He pulled the door open, surprised to see a blaring blonde in his face.
"You told my mom?!"
He blinked, momentarily stunned, then gracefully came to. "You didn't really give me much choice, love."
She scoffed, brushing past him angrily into the foyer and whipping around pointing a finger in his face. "When I said 'tell no one' that included her! Do you even know the earful I got? And what if she tells Tyler's mom?! God it's like you don't even care if we get caught!"
He closed the door and raised his eyebrows nonchalant. "Maybe I don't."
Caroline stopped, appalled by the thought. "Excuse me?"
"Why would I? I'm not ashamed of you, love. But it seems the opposing is true." He walked towards her, for the first time showing anger at her selfishness. "You keep me hidden like a shameful mistress. You deny feeling any attraction and yet you keep coming back. But you're so desperate for societal approval that you won't let yourself be happy - with me – when, in reality, it's all you truly want."
She gaped at him incredulously. "Oh – my god. You are completely delusional. Just STOP being in love with me!"
"I can't! Don't you think I've tried?"
Caroline's heart jumped, staggered by his admittance. "Then – I don't know!" She shrugged helplessly. "Try harder!"
"I'm not the issue here, Caroline, you are. For once accept that you want something no one would approve of and stop caring about it! Act on your impulses!" He grabbed her shoulders to adamantly capture her gaze. "What does it matter what anyone else thinks of what you long for? Want what you want. Do what you want to, just for once - "
He was cut off by her lips on his, kissing him passionately as her hand wrapped around his neck to pull him down to her. He sighed through his nose in relief, kissing her back with as much ferocity, gripping her hips and crashing them against his. Caroline pulled back, gasping for breath and staring at him adamantly.
"There!" she breathed out, panting. "I did what I wanted, okay?"
He licked his lips and nodded slowly. "And how did it feel, love?"
She sighed, falling back, defeated by her libido and her heart. "Good. It felt good. Are you happy now?" She scoffed, pushing her hair behind her ears, nervously. "It still doesn't make it right."
"You need to stop letting the obvious acceptable choices of what right and wrong are hinder your decision making."
"It's not that simple!"
"Yes, it is! What's right for you may not be right in someone else's eyes but that doesn't make it wrong. Do something for me, Caroline. Be truthful. If you don't care about me at all, then walk away right now and I will never bother you again." She looked up, eyes widening at the out he was giving her. "I'll leave Mystic Falls for good and leave to your life with Tyler – your happily ever after," he added bitterly. "But you must be honest, not only with me but with yourself."
She pressed her lips together, eyebrows furrowed in frustration. Her mind was screaming at her to get out but the beating in her chest wouldn't let her move. It was an ideal scenario. He would leave and her friends and family would be safer. Hell, the whole town would be safer. And she could be happy with her high school sweetheart and her mom's approval, without being alienated by her peers. Life would be simple, easy, effortless. And she would be content. But would she really be happy?
"Go on," he urged.
She turned her head away, letting out a sharp breath, finally facing her biggest lie head on. "I can't." His eyes lit with hope, dimples starting to surface. She turned back, frustrated. "You win, okay?! For some stupid reason I care about you."
His face just as quickly regained its neutrality. "This was never about me, Caroline."
"No. This is about me making stupid choices and ruining my own life all because I fell for you."
"Why is it so life ruining, love? If it makes you happy, why does anything else matter?"
"Because I'd lose everyone I love."
"Not everyone," he looked up, hinting with his eyes.
Her heart pounded and her lips parted. "I...I didn't say that I loved you."
"You knew what I meant," he reasoned quietly.
Caroline walked down the two steps to the entrance of the Great Room and sat on them, rubbing her head and resting her face in her hands.
"This is such a mess... What am I supposed to do?"
Klaus leaned against the doorway, raising an eyebrow pointedly. "It's simple. You have one of two options, love: Either tell him, or I do."
She looked up, eyes flying wide. "Excuse me?"
"Whichever way you look at it, love, one of us will have to carry the brunt of his anger and I'm willing to take the burden off your shoulders."
"How chivalrous," she quipped dully. She shook her head, annoyed. "No. He'll just be even more pissed if it came from you."
"Well if left to your own devices, we'd be waiting around for centuries like this. And my patience is wearing thin."
"So you're giving me an ultimatum because you're impatient? How is that fair?"
"You're not really in a position to be upset, Caroline. You've been leading two men on at the same time for months without giving a single thought to which you'd rather be with more. I have no issues walking to his door right now and - "
"No!" She stood suddenly. "You can't. I have to do this. Klaus...I just...I need time, okay?"
"It's really not that difficult."
"Look. I said I cared about you. I didn't say I'd drop everything and be with you because of that. How do I know this isn't just some fling? That you're even serious about this? You've never given me a reason to believe you're even capable of loving someone, Klaus."
"Has the time we spent together not been proof enough?" He stepped forward, trying not to smirk. "And not to mention touchy subjects, but I do recall you enjoying your boyfriend a great deal more when I was inhabiting his body."
She narrowed her eyes at that. "You're not helping your case, you know."
"Fine." He raised his arms defenselessly and stood back. "Take the time to decide. But if it's too long, I will not hesitate to take matters into my own hands."
Caroline scoffed and brushed past him, heading out with an enormous chip on her shoulder.
That night at the Mystic Grill, a slew of local residents were enjoying their night out. The crowd was comprised of the Grill regulars, the "out of towners" and a few stray high schoolers including Elena and Damon. They were seated not too far from the bar where Tyler was venting his concerns to best bud Matt...
"I don't know. She's been kinda acting distant lately." He looked up. "That's like one of those red flag things, right?"
Matt shrugged, shaking his head dismissively. "She's probably just stressed, man. She tries to do too much, you know? It's gotta be tiring being the head of all those committees and then she's got cheerleading, the whole Miss Mystic Falls thing, and prom and graduation coming up. Not to mention she has to deal with Klaus bugging her all the time."
Tyler looked up startled. "I thought that stopped."
"I mean, I saw her earlier when I dropped Rebekah off. She looked pretty pissed."
"You saw her at Klaus'," he made it a question.
"Yeah, why?"
"She said she was going to be home all night catching up on homework." He set his jaw as paranoia set in, fueling his already overworking brain. "I thought it was weird she was blowing me off to study..."
Matt blinked, perplexed, trying to justify it in his head. "Well...maybe she was studying and he started bothering her. I don't know. She said she was there in person to tell him to back off."
Tyler shook his head. "When is he going to realize she's not his, she's mine?"
"You make her sound like some sort of trophy."
"It's just that you would think he'd take a hint by now."
"Well you know from experience he never gives up on things."
"Whatever." He leaned forward, a wry smile on his lips. "So what's with you and all the rides for Rebekah?"
Matt grinned, shaking his head. "It's not even like that. I'm just being nice."
Tyler smirked. "I don't think that's how she sees it."
"Well it doesn't really matter how she sees it, does it? She's a vampire and, worse, an Original. I'm past the whole vampire girlfriend thing. Too much drama."
Tyler scoffed. "Tell me about it..."
It was at that moment an eavesdropping Damon turned his head back to Elena, raising his eyebrows with a tutting sound. Elena's eyes narrowed curiously, her brow lowering.
"What?"
"Sounds like Blondie's still got Klaus wrapped around her little finger, and working it."
"What do you mean?"
"According to Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Hybrid, she was at the Original mansion trying to get him to back off."
Elena glanced to where Matt and Tyler were as she processed. "Caroline was there? But she hates Klaus. Why would she rise to his bait?"
"Don't know. But it sounds pret-tyfishy if you ask me."
Elena sighed, shaking her head in disapproval as she pulled her phone out to dial her bestie. It rang three times before Caroline picked up.
"This better be important, Gilbert. You're interrupting Top Model."
"It is. Kind of."
"Kind of implies you could have texted me the problem, Elena. And I would have just as happily answered you on a commercial."
"Is Klaus still hitting on you?"
Caroline sat up on the couch, alarmed. One leaked confession was her limit per day. She was praying it was Klaus' too. She swallowed, trying not to let her nerves come through in her voice.
"What?"
"Damon just overheard Tyler talking to Matt. He said you were at the Originals' mansion yelling at Klaus to back off?"
"Oh. That." She laughed nervously. "Yeah. I mean, I was just making sure he knew I would never be interested in him. Ever."
"Just be careful, Care. He's still out for blood – literally. If he's still bothering you, he could just be using you to get to us."
"Uh huh." A buzz alerted in her ear of a new text message. "Hold on a sec, Elena."
She pulled her phone back and slid the touch screen until she found the new message. It was from Klaus. And it was their codeword. She frowned, thinking for a second then hitting the delete button and quoting a mantra in her head: out of sight, out of mind.
"You okay, Care?" Elena's voice called her attention back.
"Yeah. I'm good."
Was she, though? She had temporarily ended the affair with Klaus until she could figure out what to do, so why was it suddenly so painful to realize she wouldn't allow herself to see him again? It really shouldn't be that hard to want to avoid a serial killer hybrid jackass...
As a startling afterthought, she wondered what kind of lashing out this would spur from him. Klaus, as a man who was accustomed to always getting what he wanted, would surely be too prideful to let her say no to him and not find a way to make her regret it. What if he took it out on Tyler?
And that was another thing. She couldn't keep on with Tyler without telling him. It wasn't right, and she was a woman of morals and values. Well, she used to be anyway. Where did that girl go? Did she fall away somewhere in between the sheets of Klaus' bed? Or was she gone long before that, beneath the bleachers of the Timberwolves' field? Or even further back, when she secretly looked inside her nightstand at night to take out the portrait of her he'd drawn and wonder if there was something more to this vengeful creature? A man, layers beneath, just longing for companionship?
It was decided. She had to tell him what she'd done. And no matter what had happened, that she still loved him. He would probably hate her and never speak to her again, but she couldn't keep living with this lie looming over her. But really, what was the worst part of the lie at this point? That she slept with Klaus repeatedly, or that she fell in love with him?
