Note: Phew! Managed to get Chapter 9 published! (; Just to say a few things. Firstly, be warned! This is my 2nd last chapter for this particular story. Chapter 10 would be my last one, and it would be a tad longer than most others in this story. (:

Secondly, I hoped I didnt make Tyler OOC in this chapter. I tried really hard imagining him saying these words and actions, and edited it a few times!

Much thanks for the strong support! (:


"Care, we need to talk. You can't avoid me forever." The young hybrid called out to the girl in front of him.

"Talk about what Tyler? Didn't we like broke up or something?" The girl sighed, but stopped in her tracks, wanting to give him a chance to talk.

"We didn't really broke up. But if you want it so badly…" Tyler trailed on, already expecting this situation in his mind.

"You know what Tyler? You didn't even bother to catch me back in your arms. I think it's you who wants this, not me. We could have worked it out the other time. Now, it's pointless."

"We both know that it isn't true, Care." The man raised his voice slightly higher.

Caroline looked down to the floor. Yes, what she had just said wasn't true. But wasn't it supposed to make it easier to let go? The girl kept mum as Tyler continued, this time, slowly, not wanting to let his emotions get in the way.

"I know you so well. I have never stopped loving you, Caroline Forbes, ever since you were there for me. You walked into my life in your own accord. I'm not stopping you if you want to step out of it now."

"Tyler..."

"And I know. Damn, I know you already made your choice. So I'm letting you know, that no matter what happens, you will always be here." Tyler grabbed the girl's hand and placed it on his chest, where his heart might be.

"But we're not going to let this affect us. We can still be good friends you know? And I'll still be here, if you need me Care. You're the one good thing that happened in my life, and I'm just hoping you'd stay, even if we aren't…. you know. But if you want to leave, maybe afraid we'd become awkward or something, I understand. I just want you to be happy, Care."

Tears started streaming down her face, ashamed to look up to see her past lover right in front of her, being so understanding and wanting her to be happy. Tyler removed her tears with his thumb, smiling softly at her face, before taking her into his arms. Both took comfort in each other, before breaking away momentarily, Caroline sniffling her laughter out.

"Now, are you going to tell me what's up with you and Kol?" Tyler chuckled, twirling his fingers around her blonde locks.

"Nothing, I swear. It's just, he thinks that we're intimate or something. We kissed once." Caroline shook her head.

Tyler raised his eyebrow upon hearing that the young Original and his-, no. Upon hearing that Kol and Caroline kissed. Wasn't she supposed to be in love with Klaus or something?

"It was a spur of the moment." The girl admitted, feeling guilty.

"Well, just to let you know, I went to their house the other night."

"You what?" Caroline raised her voice, causing onlookers to stare at them.

"Listen. I can explain. I went there to tell him, to take care of you, and that if he ever hurt you… Well. Anyway, I expect him and Kol to wait for your decision. You know, whether it's him or me kind of thing. When are you planning to tell him anyway? Your decision I mean." Tyler babbled on, trying to explain himself.

"I guess when the time is right." The girl whispered softly, the pair walking back to class.


"Caroline!" A man called out to her when the blonde just ended school, walking away from the school compound.

The girl hastened her step upon seeing the man waving at her. Her little talk with Tyler in the morning had been running through her mind the whole day, and if she could get Tyler to understand her, maybe she could get this man to let her go.

"Kol." She greeted politely, just so because she was in the presence of her schoolmates.

"I was hoping, if you'd want to, hang, is that what kids these days are saying, tonight with me, at The Grill?" Kol asked the blonde in the same manner she greeted him.

The girl gave a heavy sigh; her eyes flickered with anxiousness, unsure on how to proceed on with the conversation.

"Look, Kol. I understand your honest intentions, but if I could do the same with you, I have to reject your offer."

"Aww, Come on now Caroline. It's just a meal." He wondered if her decision was just to avoid him, simply because he had teased her before.

"No, I'm sorry. But a meal will lead to another meal and then…"

"You're afraid of falling in love with me." The man accused, his mouth immediately turning into a big grin.

"Yeah, like that will happen." The girl rolled her eyes, in disbelief at the young Original in front of her. What did the poor girl have to do to make it anymore clearer?

"You know, I'm not going to give up after just one rejection." Kol smirked, his eyes lingering on her face then down to her body.

"And you know I will always say no, no matter what."

"Come on love. What does my brother have that I don't?"

When Caroline didn't reply him, he continued, this time much more seriously. "What draws you in to my brother?"

"I don't know, okay? I just do! So please, leave me alone! I-"Caroline shouted exasperatedly, finally becoming aware that she just raised her voice to an Original.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A girl vying for both my brothers love. How pathetic." Came a voice behind them.

The duo turned around to come face to face with the Original blonde, the temperamental one. Caroline clucked at her sudden appearance in the school compound. She didn't really like the blonde in front of her. After all, wasn't she the one who wanted her life, her friends and her used to be boyfriend or something?

"Tell me, Caroline. What makes you worthy of an Original, like either of my brothers?" The girl sneered, her eyes encircling the other girl's body.

It was ironic, really. It had been Nik who posed the same question to her love interest, Stefan Salvatore, some few years ago. She wondered if Caroline did manage to have a relationship, would it be as sad as hers in the 1920s? Of course not, she thought enviously. The girl would definitely not be staked, as if she was; there was no chance that she'd be alive in the near future. She'd be dead.

Kol answered swiftly to his sister's questions, giving Caroline no chance to talk. "You're one to say Rebekah. I always say it's better to court a vampire rather than a human, a commoner."

"Oh, Kol. Enlighten us all. Since when do you court people?" Rebekah smirked to her brother, her eyes gleaming with joy.

The moment of joy was shot down when his brother smirked back his response. "Touche, Bekah. But I do believe the lingo has changed to woo? And with that my sister, I would love to woo you out of the way."

"Whatever Kol. She's not and never," The girl enunciated her last word before continuing her sentence. "Going to choose you."

"Erm, I'd love to stay around and chat, but I really need to go." Caroline mentioned sarcastically.

If they were going to have a family feud, as they would call it, she was in no position to be there. She didn't even want to be there in the first place. Caroline's stomach went uneasy thinking on the possibility that she might be part of their family, if that's what Klaus wanted. No, of course not. She hadn't even told Klaus of her decision yet. Stupid girl, she thought to herself. Stop thinking so far.

The girl returned home, her bag tucked neatly in a corner of her room. As she slumped down in her bed, she took out her cellphone, her hands rushed, typing her message before pressing send. She decided she was going to meet him and be formal about this. Of course, they would have to come to an agreement.

Caroline had no intentions of making this easy for him. For Klaus.