He was a blast from the past. A locked up story in the vault of her mind.

Tyler Lockwood was someone she had attended middle school and high school with. Throughout those years, they had only crossed paths a number of times. It was at their graduation, by the off chance, that Caroline had bumped into him as she visited her locker for the last time. Removing her books from her locker, she had dropped the yearbook that she had believed to be safely lodged in the crook her arm. She had crouched to pick it up and found a tanned hand clutching the corner of her book: Tyler's hand.

She had not known much of Tyler aside from him being the star quarterback. It was unusual as Caroline had been on the cheer squad for the same amount of time he had been on his team. She had recalled him describing her as the 'vapid blonde' atop the pyramid. No love was lost there. So, when they had their 'meet-cute' in the hallway after their graduation, the air was rather awkward.

He had smiled uncomfortably as she did, too, and they had risen in time with both of their hands connected to the yearbook. A small 'thanks' had made its way out of Caroline's mouth and a pause followed. Tyler had then attempted to initiate conversation, asking about whether she had enjoyed the graduation and what she planned to do for college. She had certainly never thought they would converse after that day, especially knowing that they would soon be away for a minimum of four years.

She was right. For a while.

During the winter break of their senior year in college, they met once more. It was in Mystic Grill that they locked eyes across the bar on New Year's Eve. Elena had pointed him out. Caroline's blue eyes had bored into his deep brown irises as she absentmindedly stirred the tiny skewer around in her cocktail. Slowly but surely, they had ended up on the same end of the bar, and they ignited a flame that had never been lit in the first place. She had not intended on kissing him on the stroke of midnight, or even talking to him after that night, but lo and behold, that was exactly the case.

It seemed that no longer was he the bone-headed jock but an educated man with a new mind set differentiated from the climate in high school. In the time they had left on their break, they went on one date that turned into two dates that turned into three. Even after they had returned to their studies, they texted and called each other many times throughout the months. Once they were home again, it was game on. Caroline felt like the world was finally becoming her oyster with their relationship blossoming and her career falling into place. Tyler, too, had ambitions, which was something that she admired.

Unfortunately, he had soon become overly ambitious with his ideas of becoming a hotshot politician, even more so than his father, and he became careless. It was all work and no play until he decided he wanted to play. She did not have a say in the matter. Spontaneous picnic? Not on anyone's life would that happen if he was in the middle of something. For all of the complaints in the world that she had made, he did not seem to have a wakeup call. She, however, did.

It started as small niggling feelings when he introduced her at formal dinners in an effort to social climb. He would always forget to mention Caroline as being an up-and-coming event planner, but simultaneously would never forget to mention her being Miss Mystic Falls. Then every time she brought up her job, she would notice him shifting uncomfortably.


"Why don't you like me mentioning my work?"

He adjusted his shoulders awkwardly, his fingers stretching over the steering wheel, "What do you mean, Care?"

She turned her body to face him and held a stone expression.

"I mean, you always introduce me as the former pageant queen, Tyler."

The sun was setting outside, the purples and blues ingurgitating its reds and oranges in the mid-winter sky. Their evening had been spent just outside of Washington in a hotel that had clearly been staffed with people who were not told 'less is more' in regards to decoration. Caroline had recently given into wearing things that Tyler had picked out for her. That night, she donned a long chiffon number that clung at the neck with a bow hanging down, a form fitting coat hugging her to match. He had seemed to be taking notes of the outfits worn by the girlfriends and wives attending alongside them. She enjoyed playing dress up and partaking in formal affairs, but it had become too much.

They were almost finished making the long drive back. It was barely five o'clock and they were less than half an hour outside of town, but the day had been exhausting. She had suggested staying overnight in the hotel, but he insisted on returning to Mystic Falls so that he could make time for extra assignments in the morning.

"Well, you're only an assistant. It's not really going to impress these big guys," he argued, eyes square on the dimming road ahead.

"And my pageants are?"

"The pageant girls are part of the whole…system of politicians. You know, with all the community work involved."

His fumbling excuses gained him an eye roll. She failed to see what it was in the title 'assistant event planner' that would sound worse than 'former pageant girl', but, connecting the dots, it made sense. Every single woman in that room, if not a politician –which was far and few between–, originally became involved in charity work through –an easy guess– pageants. While she did not shy away from her pageant title, the women she met were presented as nothing more than that. She would not let herself go down that path.

"You mean they're pretty, right? It's a lot flashier to say your girlfriend's a beautiful pageant queen than a girl just starting out as an assistant getting coffee."

"Don't put words in my mouth, Caroline."

The blonde huffed, fiddling with the flimsy clip holding her hair back.

"Wow, you're gonna have to work a lot harder with words if you wanna take DC by storm, Ty," she said, her words laced with discontent.

"Look, does it matter? It's not like you'll still be working in a few years?"

His shoulders and fingers jumped in time with the defensive intonations of his voice.

"I'm sorry– what?"

"You know: once I'm done with my masters, we'll probably get hitched, move to Washington and have kids. I doubt you'll have time to be in a full time job."

"You've got it all figured out, huh?"

"It's not a surprise, Care. You knew this would happen eventually. There'll be hundreds of birthday parties and I'm sure there'll be a couple charity events you can plan that'll keep up appearances."

His rationalisations continued to frustrate her, her cheeks reddening with anger.

'Keep up appearances'.

He did not even care about what was behind the image. The idea of it alone was suffocating to say the least.

"Tyler, I'm tired of this! Every weekend, we're off to some fancy dinner with people who I could honestly care less about talking to! We haven't had alone time in, like, forever!"

"The world of politics doesn't rest, Care."

"Can't it? Just for a second? Let's do something! Now! Let's just keep driving to the nearest beach or whatever and do stuff!" her upper half bounced with the promise of excitement. They had had long periods of alone time in the summer after graduation and even as he volunteered in his father's office for the year, but once he began his masters, the alone time was becoming shorter and rarer.

"Do stuff?" he raised a disapproving eyebrow to which she sighed.

"I wanna act like a normal fucking couple for once!" she suddenly spat, her cursing striking a chord with the Lockwood boy, "These people make me want to vomit every time they open their fucking mouths!"

"Caroline," he warned.

However, once she had started her rant, she could not seem to stop.

"And I'm sick of these ugly fucking dresses with these ugly fucking bows!" she had now raised her voice as she tugged aggressively at the floral patterned bow on her dress.

"What do you want me to do, Caroline?!" he raised his voice to match hers, his hands gripping tightly on the wheel.

"I want out of this crap!" she shouted, throwing the clip that had been secure in her hair onto the dashboard.

"FINE!" he nearly screamed, bringing the car to an abrupt stop.

With her eyes wide, she watched him huff and puff from the passenger's seat. He did not glance at her for even a second when he next spoke.

"Get out," he said in a cool and collected manner.

"What?" she whispered, her eyelashes batting insecurely.

"You want out? Then get out of my fucking car, Caroline," her turned his head roughly to her as he put the brakes on.

"Ty—"

"GET OUT!"

Her body tensed and she complied. The seat belt sign flicked on when she removed her belt as did the open door sign as she exited the car. Stubbornly, on the side of the road, she faced him as she held the edge of the door.

"You know what? FUCK YOU! You're gonna be a lousy politician anyway!"

She slammed the door shut and with clenched fists she hit against the windows of the car as he started the engine up once more before speeding off without her.

"FUCK!" she screeched out into the open air and then proceeded to crouch on the ground.

A few moments passed until she realised that he was indeed not returning for her.

Tears flooded her eyes as if a dam had been demolished inside of her. Panic had also set in and her body shook as she paced back and forth along the edge of the deserted road. Pulling out her phone from her pocket, she shakily tapped away to unlock it and call her speed dial.

"U-u-uh E-Elena?"


"What are you doing here?" she questioned the man now standing in front of her door, the porch light's light flickering against his face.

Tyler stood there, hands shoved in his coat pockets, with a sweet smile on his face.

"May I come in?"

She raised a brow at his politeness but slowly retreated back, allowing him to enter. His cologne wafted through the air as he moved past her. It was a hurtfully familiar scent that had her swallowing uneasily. She remembered testing the cologne out in the shop. His birthday had been nearing and she had no idea what to buy despite having made a list of possible gifts many nights prior. After some goading from the sales assistant, she settled on an amber scent encased in a dark brown bottle.

Tyler let out a whistle as he inspected the inside of the house.

"Just like I remember," he mused, turning slowly to Caroline, "I'm sorry for your loss. I would have come to the funeral but—"

Her mother passed in the spring not long after their break up and while his parents paid their dues at the funeral, he was nowhere to be seen. Elena had reassured her that it was likely that he felt guilty of his actions and wished not to tread on any toes. In all honesty, she was glad not to see him whether that was the case or not. It was not until she had spoken to his parents at the wake that she had come to learn of his choice to move closer to his university and away from Mystic Falls.

"Hey, politics never rests, right?" she mocked quietly, closing the front door after him.

"Right…"

"So, what do you want?"

"I thought we could speak."

"The last time I spoke to you, Tyler, you left me in the middle of nowhere," she reminded him coldly, facing him.


"I don't know where I am, Elena," she sobbed into the phone, her hair clinging to the tears on her face.

"Calm down," her friend spoke soothingly, instructing her to take a number of deep breaths, "Check your maps if there's signal and send me a picture, yeah?"

"Uhuh," she managed to choke out, taking a moment to view her phone with tear-filled eyes. She blinked away her tears to clear her sight, hope washing over her as she saw the data connection in the corner of the screen. Caroline tapped, sharing her location through their text app before bringing the phone to her ear once more.

"I sent it."

"Good, okay," Elena's voice went in and out of the microphone as she checked the message, "You're not far. I'll come pick you up now. Hang in there."


"It wasn't exactly the middle of nowhere, Care."

"Don't call me that, you asshole," she slighted him, "You don't get to call me affectionately anymore."

"Caroline, I didn't come back to fight."

He followed after her as she stormed into the living room.

"Then what did you come back for?! Really?!" she raised her volume, sharply turning back to him. He bumped into her, holding his hands out a little to stabilise. He gripped her by her elbows, his eyes willing for contact.

"I made a mistake."

Her blinking was rapid and dramatic in her complete disbelief.

"You break up with me and leave on a roadside over two years ago, and you only just realised that it was a mistake?"

Her words were slow but precise with anger. She shook his arms away, giving him the eye contact he so desired with a less than desirable emotion.

"I've been…careless," he admitted with what appeared to be guilt spreading on his face, "That wasn't my only mistake."

"Yeah? Wanna make a list now? 'Cause I can start it off."

"My biggest mistake was," he took her arm again before she could escape his reach, "I let you go."

Caroline bit the inside of her bottom lip, analysing every inch of his sad expression. A lot had happened in two and a half years that did not involve him.

"I'm gonna make us some coffee," she murmured, gently releasing herself from his grip, "Make yourself comfortable."


Elena banged heavily on the door, the bell on the inside dinging with each hit.

"Gus!"

There were some noises of rummaging before the stumpy man appeared from the back room of the coffee shop. Though dark, Elena could make out his figure.

"Elena, I'm closed!"

"Come on! It's only two minutes to six!" she pleaded, arms folded, "I've got a crying girl in the car that needs a latte right now!"

The large shop owner stilled but ultimately groaned, fishing for his keys. He turned on the lights as well as the machines and unlocked the door for her.

"Maybe you girls should get yourselves one of those fancy coffee makers."

Elena grinned, shrugging. He opened the door wide and she looked back at her friend in sympathy, knowing she would prefer not to reveal her unsightly state.

"I'll take the coffee to go."


"So, I hear you're still working in events?"

Caroline shuffled into her living room, resting the two black mugs on the coffee table. He muttered a 'thank you' with his eyes on the drinks.

"Yeah," she said with a sighing breath, "I'm one of the head planners at the company..."

"Impressive. All that in a few years?"

"I'm a hard worker. Actually, I mainly work with pageants; I hear they're very important in political affairs."

He laughed quietly at her dig. Caroline proceeded to sit on the other end of the couch, ensuring the distance between them was far enough. She cleared her throat once she noticed her shoes still strewn on the floor underneath the table and kicked them further out of view.

"I deserve that."

"You do."

The silence was deafening as all the questions swirled in her head.

"Why are you back, Tyler? I know you didn't return just to win me back."

The promise of that, while enticing, was too far into the land of delusion for her. He tilted his head back and forth, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. She pressed her lips together; his smile was always something that had her knees quaking.

"My father is sick, so he's stepping down as mayor soon," he confessed, rubbing his hands together, "I plan to take his place."

Caroline's mouth gaped slightly, "He— is he okay? I mean, he's sick so, he's obviously not, but—"

"He was diagnosed with, uh, prostate cancer just the other week."

"Oh my god," she let escape, instinctively reaching to hold his shoulder. She knew all too well the feeling of hearing such a damning diagnosis.

"It's okay. They caught it early," he dispelled her shock softly.

"Still… And you're going to run for mayor?"

"Yeah," his smile warmed and he made eye contact, "My dad's all about it at the moment."

Caroline avoided his gaze and pulled back her arm, "That's great."

"Care—" he shifted his body to face her, "Caroline, I miss you."


"He's gonna miss you," the brunette said in between sips of her latte.

The young girl sat in the passenger's seat, curls a mess and blurred eyeliner staining her cheeks, and clung to her cup.

"Doubtful," she muttered, staring angrily out of the windshield.

"I mean it," Elena said, placing her cup in the holder to wipe her friend's tears, "Years from now, he's gonna wake up and realise he made the biggest mistake of his life!"

Always the optimist with love, Elena was.

Caroline sniffled and glanced at her friend, her heart warming up under the care of Elena.

"I thought he was the one," Caroline informed to no surprise of the brunette. They had discussed many times the dreams in their respective relationships. Elena was ready for the ring from Damon, but Caroline had hoped that her ring would hold out a number of extra years longer.

"Maybe he is…just not at the moment."


"You don't miss me," the blonde replied, a gentleness creeping in her voice. The anger she had harboured had slowly quelled itself with the news of Tyler's father. She could only rationalise that his words were merely in the panic of thinking he would lose his father. Wishing to turn back the clocks was something she did many times after her mother's death.

"Let's give it another shot," he encouraged, taking her hands in his.

Her eyes were wide and her mouth was hanging open in shock. His eyes were lit up like his mind was buzzing with the most exciting idea known to man. Although she wanted to act like the past was the past, his planned future still involved a life of political discourse and children within a year of a rushed marriage.

"Tyler… I'm not giving anything up for you; not now, not ever."

"You don't have to!" he was quick to say, shaking his head, "I just want you. I want it to be like it was…before all the drama. We can take a trip to the nearest beach and do whatever!"

Caroline sucked in a breath, his words hauntingly reflecting her wishes that dreadful night. She pondered whether they would still be together if he had only given her what she wanted, or whether she would end up as miserable as she thought she would be without those wants fulfilled.

"I…"

He stood, releasing her hands, "Let me take you to dinner sometime? I don't need an answer now. I don't even need a tentative answer."

She rose from her seat, staring up at him. Her gaze was full of hurt and fear. She was hurting over every memory of him that had flooded through the door ever since he had entered her home, and she was fearful of what she felt in hearing his fairy tale-istic words.

"Just…" he stroked her cheek and she froze at the sudden touch, watching his eyes carefully, "Think about it, okay? Promise me you'll think about it?"

Her jaw anxiously tightened and she stepped back, nodding.

"Yes. Okay. I'll think about it."

"Thank you," he gave a smile, but she avoided even a glance at him, "My number is the same if you still have it?"

Caroline simply nodded and looked at the ground. He, too, bobbed his head in understanding before exiting her home. The door came to a slow shut, the sound of it feeling louder than anticipated.

She was left in the middle of the living room with two cups of coffee and a heavy decision weighing on her shoulders, but all she could think about was the waste she had made by making the drinks in the first place.


A/N: Cue the dramatic sound effects!

Don't know what to write in a review? Try answering these:

What do you think of Tyler, huh? Humongous douche, right?

What do you think Caroline will do? What should she do?

You know, I think Elena gets a lot of flack for being shitty when it comes meddling, but she's got a good heart when it comes to caring for her friends, right?

Thank you for over 60 followers on the story, guys! Reviews are encouraged and greatly appreciated!

Extra side note: This story was originally going to be 10 chapters but with the pacing and everything being taken into consideration, it's likely to be 12!

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